Aspiring Sage

What Does It Mean To Be A Christian?

2010-05-17T09:38:00.004-04:00

This is an excerpt from a sermon by Samuel Davies, "The Sacred Import of the Christian Name"

I highly reccomend reading the whole sermon! It goes into much detail about the word\label "Christian", including that is a family name, a name of honor, and a name of obligation, showing that there is a big difference between the Christian world and the Christian religion.

"The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch." Acts 11:26

What is it to be a Christian?

1. To be a Christian--is to depart from iniquity.
2. To be a Christian--is to deny yourselves, take up the cross and follow Christ.

3. To be a Christian--is to be a follower or imitator of Christ.

"He left us an example--that we should follow His steps!" 1 Peter 2:21

Christ is the model for every Christian.

Paul tells us that believers will be conformed to His image, Romans 8:29; and that the same mind must be in us--which was also in Christ Jesus. Phil. 2:5.

Christ's heart glowed with love to His Father! He delighted in universal obedience to Him; it was His food and drink to do the Father's will, even in the most painful and self-denying instances! He abounded in devotion, in prayer, meditation and every pious duty.

He was also full of every grace and virtue towards mankind! He was meek and humble, kind and benevolent, just and charitable, merciful and compassionate towards all. Beneficence to the souls and bodies of men was the business of His life; for He went about doing good. Acts 10:38.

In regard to Himself--He was patient and resigned--and yet undaunted and brave under sufferings. He had all His appetites and passions under proper government. He was heavenly-minded; above this world in heart--while He dwelt in it.

This is an imperfect sketch of His amiable character; and in these things every one who deserves to be called after His name, does in some measure resemble and imitate Him. This is not only his earnest endeavor--but what he actually attains, though in a much inferior degree; and his imperfections are the grief of his heart.

This resemblance and imitation of Christ is essential to the very being of a Christian, and without it, all profession is a vain pretense!

Does your Christianity, my friends, stand this test? May one know that you belong to Christ--by your living like Him, and manifesting the same temper and spirit?

Counseling Is For Every Christian

2010-04-19T13:47:00.000-04:00

Are you familiar with Dr.Jay Adams?

If not, I beg you to get to know him. His ministry has blessed my life greatly! One simple yet very powerful truth I have gleaned from his ministry is that, the Lord has given every Christian the ministry of counseling...

2 Timothy 4:2-5
Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away frim the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Galatians 6:1
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness.

Whether we intend to or not, we counsel everyday...either by what is said or not said and by what is done or not done. Everyday there is someone watching and\or listening to see how we (professing Christians) will deal with life's issues and it is our chief end to glorify God through them.

I pray that you will really consider honing your skills in the area of "edifying and building one another up". It will be a blessing to your soul and to those around you, but more importantly, it will be honoring to God.

You can find more information on the ministry of counseling through Dr.Adams at the
Institute For Nouthetic Studies.

The Whole Christ

2010-04-11T07:40:00.002-04:00

Thomas Sherman, 1680

"Yet to all who received Him . . . He gave the right to become children of God" John 1:12

A whole Christ must be received--with the whole heart.

Some in their understanding, assent to the way of salvation--yet do not consent to it with their will. In judgment they are for Christ--but in affection they are for other things. There is only a part of their soul that is for Christ. Others would have the benefits that are from Christ--but have no love for the person of Christ.

Some would have Christ only as a Savior--but not as a Lord. They desire Him only as a Priest to offer a sacrifice for their sins--but not as a Prophet to instruct them, nor as a King to rule over them. So that it is but part of Christ, that they would receive.

But both of these courses are equally dangerous; for, if we would be saved, we must cleave to Christ with all the faculties of the soul--with will, judgment, affection, etc. And so, again, we must cleave to the whole of Christ--Christ in His natures, person, offices, etc. If, therefore, you would rightly receive Christ, see that your whole soul receives a whole Christ.

Grace Gems

2010-04-06T19:55:00.004-04:00

I enjoy and highly recommend receiving daily email devotionals from Grace Gems.
Here is a sample...

J.R.Miller ~ Our words and deeds are irrevocable

"But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken!" Matthew 12:36

We cannot recall any word we have spoken. It may be a false word or an unkind word--a word which will blast and burn! Instantly after it has been spoken--we may wish it back and may rush after it and try to stop it--but there is no power in the world that can unsay the hurtful word--or blot it out of our life!

It is just so with our acts. A moment after we have done a wicked thing, we may bitterly repent it. We may be willing to give all we have in the world to undo it, to make it as though it never had been. But in vain. A deed done takes its place in the universe as a fact--and never can be recalled.

We should be sure before we speak a word or do an act--that it is right, that we shall never desire to have it recalled--for when once we have opened our lips, or lifted our hand--there will be no unsaying or undoing possible.

Our words and deeds are irrevocable. We cannot recall anything we have done, neither can we change it. But by other words and deeds, we may in some measure modify the effect of that which we cannot blot out. Paul could not undo his persecutions of Christians--but by a life to devotion to Christ's cause--he could in a sense make reparation for the terrible harm he had done.

Just so, we cannot undo the wrong things we have done--but we should strive to set in motion other influences which may at least compensate in some sense for the harm they have wrought. We cannot unsay the sharp word which wounds our friend's heart--but we can by kindness and loyal devotion--yet bring good and blessing to his life.

Miss Me?

2010-03-26T14:29:00.017-04:00

I'm so sorry to have been gone this long! Sometimes life takes you on a little detour and you just have to go with the flow...you know what I mean? Priorities...priorities...priorities :)

Anyways, I thought I'd just give you a quick 3 month update...

January...

We had a wonderful time at the Stone's Christmas\New Year's Party....

I had a terrible mishap with my thyroid medication and lost half my hair! Huge lesson in humility :) and that you should NEVER take the generic brand of thyroid medication.

**Sorry, no pictures of this event!**

We traveled to Panama City to bury my 98 year old great-grandmother. She was a lovely Christian woman and I have many fond memories of growing up with her. She is who I was named after. Her full name was Iola Lillie Dee Vandores Hood Strickland. Whew! Things were a lot different back then! Here's a picture of her younger years...

Lane became more and more involved in his 4-H Archery Club and starting winning several competitions...

And we began some of our "Homesteading & Self-sufficiency" projects...starting with the animals... we built hog pens...Lane is showing one in the Flagler County Fair this April and we have one we are raising for our freezer...Leah is raising chickens to show in the Fair but not to sell, these will be be for eggs and meat...and Lacy is raising rabbits for rabbit stew...I'll post more pics on all that later... :)

February...

Jamey was forced to start Paramedic school, which he wasn't very happy about since the previous year he had quit a very high paying job to take a very low paying job in order to be home with his family more to pursue some "family entrepreneurship" BUT we are trusting the Lord has a reason and a plan that will be for His glory and our good :) The grueling schedule hasn't been easy (roughly 2-3 days off a month and will soon only be 1 day!!!) so we would covet your prayers. Lane and I are filling in the gaps as much as we can and we've learned to treat every moment with dad as extra special!

Lacy celebrated her 4th Birthday...

Lane won more Archery competitions...1st place in Pre-State and 2nd in State! Then he went on to Nationals in Kentucky!!!

We had another great visit at the Stone's...maybe I'll try to do a post of just party pics??

Started an organic vegetable garden, that is quite pitiful...no pics of that yet...

As well as many many other things...

April and May are approaching fast and they will be very busy too...

More ministering to dad...

Easter...

Leah's 8th Birthday...

Lane's 16th Birthday...whoo hoo!!! Big Party????

The Flagler County Fair...to which YOU ARE ALL INVITED...April 15-17

And the end of another "school year"...just to name a few...

I don't know how often I'll be able to post but I hope to squeeze it in somehow!

..........Would love to hear from everyone.........

Ten Questions to Ask in the New Year

2010-01-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

Don Whitney:

Once, when the people of God had become careless in their relationship with Him, the Lord rebuked them through the prophet Haggai. "Consider your ways!" (Haggai 1:5) he declared, urging them to reflect on some of the things happening to them, and to evaluate their slipshod spirituality in light of what God had told them.

Even those most faithful to God occasionally need to pause and think about the direction of their lives. It's so easy to bump along from one busy week to another without ever stopping to ponder where we're going and where we should be going.

The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up, and get our bearings. To that end, here are some questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God.

1. What's one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?

2. What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?

3. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?

4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?

5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?

6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?

7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?

8. What's the most important way you will, by God's grace, try to make this year different from last year?

9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?

10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?

In addition to these ten questions, here are twenty-one more to help you "Consider your ways." Think on the entire list at one sitting, or answer one question each day for a month.
11. What's the most important decision you need to make this year?

12. What area of your life most needs simplifying, and what's one way you could simplify in that area?

13. What's the most important need you feel burdened to meet this year?

14. What habit would you most like to establish this year?

15. Who do you most want to encourage this year?

16. What is your most important financial goal this year, and what is the most important step you can take toward achieving it?

17. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your work life this year?

18. What's one new way you could be a blessing to your pastor (or to another who ministers to you) this year?

19. What's one thing you could do this year to enrich the spiritual legacy you will leave to your children and grandchildren?

20. What book, in addition to the Bible, do you most want to read this year?

21. What one thing do you most regret about last year, and what will you do about it this year?

22. What single blessing from God do you want to seek most earnestly this year?

23. In what area of your life do you most need growth, and what will you do about it this year?

24. What's the most important trip you want to take this year?

25. What skill do you most want to learn or improve this year?

26. To what need or ministry will you try to give an unprecedented amount this year?

27. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your commute this year?

28. What one biblical doctrine do you most want to understand better this year, and what will you do about it?

29. If those who know you best gave you one piece of advice, what would they say? Would they be right? What will you do about it?

30. What's the most important new item you want to buy this year?

31. In what area of your life do you most need change, and what will you do about it this year?

For more Don Whitney resources please visit:
http://www.biblicalspirituality.org/index.html

The Art of Divine Contentment - Part 9

2010-01-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

The Art of Divine Contentment: An Exposition of Philippians 4:11

"I have learned, in whatsoever state I am in, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11

"Highlights" from Chapter 15 Consolation to the Contented Christian...

To the contented Christian, I shall say two things for a farewell. 1) God is exceedingly taken with such a frame of heart. If you would please God, and be men of his heart, be contented. God hates a froward spirit. 2) The contented Christian shall be no loser. What lost Job by his patience? God gave him twice as much as before. What lost Abraham by his contentment? God made a covenant with him that he would be his God, that he would be the father of many nations; God makes his seed as the stars of heaven; nay, honors him with this title, "the father of the faithful". God will be sure to reward the contented Christian. As our Saviour said to Nathaniel, "you shall see greater things than these:" (Jn.1:50) so I say, art thou contented (O Christian) with little? thou shalt see greater things than these.

End.

That concludes this 'Book Highlight'. I hope that you have been encouraged, edified, and spurred towards a closer walk with the Lord. It is my earnest prayer that we all glorify Him more with our lives as we "learn to be content in whatever state we are in". Thanks for following along. I hope to see you again next time.
If there are any specific book requests you have, just let me know, and I'll see what I can do!
Thanks again, and may God bless you!

The Art of Divine Contentment - Part 8

2009-12-31T06:00:00.000-05:00

The Art of Divine Contentment: An Exposition of Philippians 4:11

"I have learned, in whatsoever state I am in, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11

"Highlights" from Chapter 14 Rules About Contentment...

Rule 1. Advance faith. All our disquiets do issue immediately from unbelief.

Rule 2. Labour for assurance. Labor to say "my God" and "I know whom I have believed".

Rule 3. Get a humble spirit. The humble man studies his own unworthiness and cries out with Paul, that he is the chief of sinners.

Rule 4. Keep a clear conscience. O take heed of indulging any sin!

Rule 5. Learn to deny yourselves. Look well to your affections, bridle them in. Do two things: mortify your desires and moderate your delights.
How?
1) Get a right judgment of the things here below.
2) Often seriously meditate of mortality.

Rule 6. Get much of heaven into your heart. Fly aloft in your affections, thirst after the graces and comforts of the Spirit; the eagle that flies above in the air, fears not the stinging of the serpent; the serpent creeps on his belly, and stings only such creatures as go upon the earth.

Rule 7. Look not so much on the dark side of your condition, as on the light. Do not pore upon your losses but ponder your mercies.
Thou art not fully sanctified in this life, how then thinkest thou be fully satisfied? *Never look for perfection of contentment till there be perfection of grace.*

Rule 8. Consider in what posture we stand in the world.
We are in a military position; we are soldiers.
We are in a peregrine condition; we are pilgrims and travelers.
We are in a mendicant condition; we are beggars.

Rule 9. Let not your hope depend upon outward things. O never place your felicity in these dull and beggarly things here below! Say with thyself, "if friends leave me, if riches take wings, yet I have that within which comforts me, an heavenly treasure; I still have an interest in God, and that interest cannot be broken off."

Rule 10. Let us often compare our condition. Make this fivefold comparison.
1) Let us compare our condition and our desert together; if we have not what we desire, we still have more than we deserve.
2) Let us compare our condition with others; are you in prison? are you in the lion's den? are you wondering in sheep's skins? art thou tormented with stone or gout? Some Christians who have been in a lower condition, have looked better, been more patient, and more contented than we who enjoy abundance. Can you take up their cross and walk cheerfully under it? or will you murmur under even lighter crosses?
3) Let us compare our condition with Christ's upon the earth. He was rich, yet for our sakes became poor (2Cor.8:9). Jesus Christ was in a low condition, he was never high, but when he was lifted up upon the cross, and that was his humility:he was content to live poor, and die cursed.
4) Let us compare our condition to what it once was. It was a Christless and hopeless condition: but now God hath cut off the entail of hell and damnation; he hath taken you out of the wild olive of nature, and ingrafted you into Christ, making you living branches of that living vine; he hath not only caused the light to shine upon you, but into you, and hath interested you in all the privileges of sonship; is not here that which may make the soul content.
5) Let us compare our condition with what it shall be shortly. God may presently seal a warrant for death to apprehend us; and when we die, we cannot carry estate with us; honor and riches descend not into the grave, why then are we troubled at our outward condition? O lay up a stock of grace! Be rich in faith and in good works, these riches will follow us.

Rule 11. Bring not your condition to mind, but bring your mind to your condition. One man has a whole manor and is discontent; another is satisfied with a few acres of land; what is the difference? The one studies to satisfy curiosity, the other necessity; the one thinks what he may have, the other what he may spare.

Rule 12. Study the vanity of the creature. It matters not whether we have less or more of these things, they have vanity written all over them; the world is like a shadow that declineth; it is delightful, but deceitful; it promiseth more than we find, and it fails us when we need it most. All the world rings changes, and is constant only in its disappointments: what then, if we have less of that which is vanity?

Rule 13. Get fancy regulated. What is the reason one tulip is worth five pounds, and another not worth one shilling? Fancy raiseth the price; the difference is rather imaginary than real; so, why it should be better to have thousands than hundreds, is, because men fancy it so; if we could fancy a lower condition better, as having less care in it, and less account, it would be far more eligible.

Rule 14. Consider how little will suffice nature. Christ hath taught us to pray for our daily bread...not to thirst and not to starve is enough; and the apostle saith, "having food and raiment let us be content." The stomach is sooner filled than the eye; how quickly would a man be content, if he would study rather to satisfy his hunger than his humour.

Rule 15. Believe the present condition is best for us. Flesh and blood is not competent to judge. O what a strange creature man would be, if he were what he could wish himself! A wise Christian hath his will melted into God' will, and thinks it best to be at his finding.

Rule 16. Do not too much indulge the flesh. We have taken an oath in baptism to forsake the flesh. The flesh is a worse enemy than the devil; an enemy within is worst. The flesh puts us upon the immoderate pursuit of the world; it consults for ease and plenty, and if it be not satisfied, then discontent begins to arise. O let it not have the reins! Martyr the flesh!

Rule 17. Meditate much on the glory which shall be revealed. It is but a while and we shall be with Christ, bathing ourselves in the fountain of his love; we shall never complain of wants and injuries anymore. O eternity, eternity! Think often of the kingdom prepared. This is an excellent means to bring the heart to contentment.

Rule 18. Be much in prayer. It is not our strong resolutions, but our strong request to God, which must give the heart ease in trouble; by prayer the strength of Christ comes into the soul, and where that is, a man is able to go through any condition.

The Art of Divine Contentment - Part 7

2009-12-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

The Art of Divine Contentment: An Exposition of Philippians 4:11

"I have learned, in whatsoever state I am in, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11

"Highlights" from Chapter 13 How a Christian May Know Whether He Hath Learned This Divine Art...

1st.Character: A contented spirit is a silent spirit.

"I was silent; I would not open my mouth,
for You are the one who has done this." Psalm 39:9

"Let him sit alone in silence,
for the LORD has laid it on him." Lam.3:28

There is a sinful silence; when God is dishonoured, His truth wounded, and men hold their peace, this silence is loud sin; and there is a holy silence, when the soul sits down quiet and content with its condition.

2nd.Character: A contented spirit is a cheerful spirit.

Contentment denotes more than patience; for patience only denotes submission, contentment denotes cheerfulness.

Contentment looks upon God as a wise God; and whatever He does, though it be not willingly, yet sensibly, it is in order to a cure.

Contentment not only submits to God's dealings, but rejoices in them; he does not only say, "just is the Lord" but "good is the Lord".

3rd.Character: A contented spirit is a thankful spirit.

Thankfulness is a degree above cheerfulness.
Some will bless God for prosperity, while the contented Christian will bless Him for affliction..."in everything give thanks." 1Thes.5:18

A contented Christian in the greatest of straits hath his heart enlarged and dilated with thankfulness; he often contemplates God's love in election; he sees that he is a monument of mercy, therefore desires to be a pattern of praise.

4th.Character: No condition comes amiss to him; "in whatever state I am in."

Paul knew how to manage every state; if he were in prosperity, he knew how to be thankful; if in adversity, he knew how to be patient; he was neither lifted up with the one, nor cast down with the other. A contented Christian doth not choose his cross, but leaves God to choose for him; he is content both for the kind and the duration.

5th.Character: The contented Christian will not turn to sin in order to rid himself of his troubles.

With reverence, the contented Christian says, God hath cast me into this condition; and though it be sad, and troublesome, yet I will not stir, till God fetch me out.

The Art of Divine Contentment - Part 6

2009-12-27T06:00:00.000-05:00

The Art of Divine Contentment: An Exposition of Philippians 4:11

"I have learned, in whatsoever state I am in, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11

"Highlights from Chapter 12 Three Estates in which we must NOT be contented...

1) "We must NOT be content in our natural estate." (IE. content to be without Christ)
"For a man to be in debt, body and soul; in fear every hour to be arrested and carried prisoner to hell, shall he be content? O get out of this condition! The smell of brimstone and fire is upon you!"

"The longer a man stays in his sin, the more sin strengthens. Therefore it is mercy when we are disquieted about sin."

"It is one of the worst sights to see a bad conscience quiet. I wonder to see a man in his natural estate content. What! content to go to hell?

2) "We must NOT be content where God is apparently dishonored."
"If a man's trade be such that he must trespass a command, better to knock off and divert, better to lose some of his gain, so he may lessen some of his guilt."

"Or, if a man live where the name of God is not called upon, unless when it is taken in vain, he is not to content himself with such a place, but rather come out of the tents of these sinners; for there is double danger in living among the profane...
2 Dangers:
1) Lest we come to be infected with the poison of their ill example. O how prone we are to suck in example; men take in deeper impressions by the eye than the ear!
2) We are liable to incur their punishment."

3) "We are NOT to be contented with our growth in grace."
"It is not enough that there be life, but there must be fruit."

"O covet more grace! "press on toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" Phil.3:13-14."

"The hypocrite brings forth only sour grapes; the godly man grows in love, faith, and humility which cast a fragrancy and perfume."

"Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart." 1 Peter 1:22

"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness." 2 Peter 1:5-6

Happy Birthday Jesus!

2009-12-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

Luke 2
The Birth of Jesus
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

To God be all the glory!

Santa Delays & Distorts

2009-12-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

I thought for Christmas Eve I would share a blog post from Desiring God Ministries on why it's really not good to include Santa in our tradtions surrounding Christmas. I pray this will minister to you and encourage you to keep the focus on Christ tomorrow and all throughout the year...

Desiring God Blog

Thinking About Santa
Posted: 15 Dec 2009 12:05 AM PST

(Author: Noel Piper)

Over the years, we have chosen not to include Santa Claus in our Christmas stories and decorations. There are several reasons.

First, fairy tales are fun and we enjoy them, but we don't ask our children to believe them.

Second, we want our children to understand God as fully as they're able at whatever age they are. So we try to avoid anything that would delay or distort that understanding. It seems to us that celebrating with a mixture of Santa and manger will postpone a child's clear understanding of what the real truth of God is. It's very difficult for a young child to pick through a marble cake of part-truth and part-imagination to find the crumbs of reality.

Third, we think about how confusing it must be to a straight-thinking, uncritically-minded preschooler because Santa is so much like what we're trying all year to teach our children about God. Look, for example, at the "attributes" of Santa.

* He's omniscient—he sees everything you do.
* He rewards you if you're good.
* He's omnipresent—at least, he can be everywhere in one night.
* He gives you good gifts.
* He's the most famous "old man in the sky" figure.

But at the deeper level that young children haven't reached yet in their understanding, he is not like God at all.

For example, does Santa really care if we're bad or good? Think of the most awful kid you can remember. Did he or she ever not get gifts from Santa?

What about Santa's spying and then rewarding you if you're good enough? That's not the way God operates. He gave us his gift—his Son—even though we weren't good at all. "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). He gave his gift to us to make us good, not because we had proved ourselves good enough.

Helping our children understand God as much as they're able at whatever age they are is our primary goal. But we've also seen some other encouraging effects of not including Santa in our celebration.

First, I think children are glad to realize that their parents, who live with them all year and know all the worst things about them, still show their love at Christmas. Isn't that more significant than a funny, old, make-believe man who drops in just once a year?

Second, I think most children know their family's usual giving patterns for birthday and special events. They tend to have an instinct about their family's typical spending levels and abilities. Knowing that their Christmas gifts come from the people they love, rather than from a bottomless sack, can help diminish the "I-want-this, give-me-that" syndrome.

And finally, when children know that God's generosity is reflected by God's people, it tends to encourage a sense of responsibility about helping make Christmas good for others.

The Art of Divine Contentment - Part 5

2009-12-22T06:00:00.001-05:00

The Art of Divine Contentment: An Exposition of Philippians 4:11

"I have learned, in whatsoever state I am in, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11

"Highlights" from Chapter 11 Divine Motives to Contentment...

1st Divine Motive: Consider the Excellency of it...
"There are two things in a contented spirit which make it like heaven: 1.God is there. 2. Rest is there."

"Contentment makes a man in tune to serve God."

"Contentment fits a man to bear burdens."

"Contentment prevents many sins and temptations...
SINS:
There are two sins in particular which contentment prevents: impatience & murmuring...
Impatience arises from a lack of faith; a lack of love for God; and a lack of humility.
Murmuring is quarrelling with God. The murmurer saith that God hath not dealt well with him and he deserves better... In Numbers 17:10 murmurers are likened to rebels; and is not rebellion as the sin of witchcraft? O Christian, be not as a witch, a sorcerer, or as one that deals with devil!
A contented Christian doth not murmur, but admire.
TEMPTATIONS:
"Satan takes great advantage of discontent because it eclipses reason and weakens faith which leads to atheism and apostasy."

"Contentment sweetens every condition...Do I meet with crosses? My comfort is, if they be heavy, I have not far to go."

"Contentment is the best commentator upon providence..."Love thinketh no evil" of God's providence, no matter how dark. God is wise; he hath done this either to prevent some sin or to exercise some grace."

2nd Divine Motive: Hath not God given thee Christ?
"A Christian hath "one thing needful"...Is there not enough inexhaustible treasure locked up in Jesus Christ to give the soul content?"

4th Divine Motive: God hath His end and Satan misses his end.
""The devil will cast some of you into prison" Rev.2:10...Why doth the devil throw us into prison? It is not so much the hurting of our body, as the molesting of our mind, that he aims at...O let us not gratify our enemy! for he loves to warm himself at the fire our passions...Repentance is the joy of angels, and discontent is the joy of the devils.

7th Divine Motive: Consider the evil of it.
"Discontent is unworthy of a Christian's profession. It was the saying of the heathen, bear thy condition quietly, "know thou art a man"; so I say, bear thy condition contentedly, "know thou art a Christian."

9th Divine Motive: The shortness of life. It is "but a vapor", saith James (Ja.4:14)
"We have but a short time here, and death calls us presently off the stage; therefore to thirst immoderately after the world, is an extreme folly."

"Death begins a wicked man's hell, but it puts an end to godly man's hell."

The Art of Divine Contentment - Part 4

2009-12-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

The Art of Divine Contentment: An Exposition of Philippians 4:11

"I have learned, in whatsoever state I am in, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11

"Highlights" from Chapter 10 A Suasive to Contentment...

"Discontentment is sin. It labors to hide itself under some mask or vindicate itself by some apology."

Apologies & Replys...

Apology: "I have lost a child"
Reply: Oftentimes, our love to relations is more than our love to religion. We must be content, not only ehen God gives mercies, but when He takes away. look not so much upon a temporal loss, as a spiritual gain. O, be not discontented that a mercy is taken away from you, but rather be thankful that is was lent you so long. Be thankful of the loss of burden or the saving from future evils. Think of the mercies you still enjoy. Christ hath given you His only Son. Why complain of losses if you have Christ? He is his Father's brightness (Heb.1:3), his riches (Col.2:9), his delight (Ps.42:1). Is there enought in Christ to delight the heart of God? Then there should be enough in Him to ravish us holy delight.
He is wisdom to teach us, righteousness to acquit us, sanctification to adorn us; He is all in all. Why then are thou discontented? Though the child be lost, yet thou has Him for whom all things are loss.

Apology: "I have a great part of my estate largely melted away"
Reply: God hath taken away your estate, but not your portion. Honor and estate are rather luxuries than essentials. Be content; if God dam up our outward comforts, it is, that the stream of our love may run faster another way.

Apology: "It is sad with me in my relations"
This apology branches into two particulars...
1st: "My child goes in rebellion"
Reply: a) The child's sin is sometimes the parents sermon. Look upon your child's rebellion and mourn for your own rebellion.
b) To see him undutiful is your grief, yet not always your sin. Hast thou seasoned his tender years with religious education? Thous canst do no more; parents can only work knowledge, God must work grace.
Weep for the child, pray for him; but do not sin for him by discontent.
2nd: "My husband takes ill courses"
Reply: Mourn for his sins but do not murmur. God hath placed you in your relation; you must not quarrel with God. God often turns the sins of others to our good; and makes our maladies our medicines.

Apology: "My friends have dealt unkindly with me"
Reply: Why should we think it strange to have the same measure dealt out to us as Jesus Christ had? Look upon the unkindness of thy friend, and mourn for thy own unkindness against God; shall a Christian condemn that in another, which he hath been guilty of himself? You have a friend in heaven that will never fail you. Pr.18:24

Apology: "Disrespect from the world...I have not that esteem from men as is suitable to my quality and grace."
Reply: Honor is in him that gives it. It is better that God approve, than men applaud. Discontent arising from disrespect savours too much of pride; a humble Christian hath a lower opinion of himself.

Apology: "I meet with very great suffering for the truth"
Reply: Your sufferings are not so great as your sins. Shall we not with much constancy and patience devote ourselves to injuries for religion, and rather suffer for truth than the truth suffer for us?

Apology: "The evil of the times: heresy & impiety"
Reply to heresy: It should make us mourn when every man's opinion is his bible, but let us not murmur through discontent. God can make the errors of the church advantageous to truth; some had never so studied to defend the truth by scripture, if others had not endeavored to overthrow it by deceitful reasoning.
When we see others have the "leprosy in the head", how thankful are we to God that he hath not given us over to believe a lie and so be damned?
Reply to impiety: It is indeed sad to live among the wicked, yet, we ought, if there be any spark of divine love in us, to be very sensible of the sins of others, and to have our hearts bleed for them.

Apology: "My sins disquiet & discontent me"
Reply: Be sure not to lie to God or yourself; a man's disquiet about sin may be beyond its bounds, in 3 cases...
1. When it is disheartening, that is, when it sets up sin above mercy.
2. When sorrow is indisposing, it untunes the heart for prayer, meditation, and holy conference. This is not sorrow but rather sulleness and doth render a man not so much penitential as cynical.
3. When it is out of season. This is when God calls us to be thankful for a special mercy and Satan puts us to mourning; therefore God looses the acknowledgment of mercy, and we the comfort.

The Art of Divine Contentment - Part 3

2009-12-18T06:00:00.003-05:00

The Art of Divine Contentment: An Exposition of Philippians 4:11

"I have learned, in whatsoever state I am in, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11

"Highlights" from Chapter 6 The Nature of Contentment...

"Contentment - a sweet temper of spirit, whereby a Christian carries himself in an equal poise in every condition."

Webster's 1828 definition, contentment - satisfaction of mind; appeasment; gratification; quietness of spirit. Content, literally means held, contained within limits, hence quiet; having a mind at peace.

"1. Contentment is a divine thing - we can not acquire it ourselves, it must be infused to us by God."

"2. Contentment is an intrinsical thing - contentment lies within the soul, and doth not depend upon external comforts. Contentment arises from apprehension of God's love."

"3. Contentment is a habitual thing - it is a settled temper of the heart."

"Highlights" from Chapter 7 Reasons Pressing to Holy Contentment...

"1. It is God's precept. Hebrews 13:5 "Be content with such things as you have."
"Though our hearts become as a raging sea, they should be stilled by His word."

"2. It is God's promise to "never leave us, nor forsake us." We should be content to be at God's disposal."

"Highlight" from Chapter 8...

"The way to be comfortable, is not by having our barns filled, but our minds quiet."

The Art of Divine Contentment - Part 2

2009-12-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

The Art of Divine Contentment: An Exposition of Philippians 4:11

"I have learned, in whatsoever state I am in, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11

"Highlights" from Chapter 3...

"This word, "I have learned," is a word that imports difficulty; it shows how hardly the apostle came by contentment of mind; it was not bred in nature...It is an easy thing to be wicked but matters of religion must be learned."

"Good things are hard to come by."

"There are two pregnant reasons why there must be so much study and exercitation: 1. Because spiritual things are against our nature. 2. Because spiritual things are above our nature."

(In this section, Watson goes on to describe individually why faith, self-denial, self-examination, and self-reformation are all against our nature...he concluded with...)

"We must implore the Spirit to teacheth! Is.48:17"

"Highlights from Chapter 4...

"The main proposition I shall insist upon, is this, that a gracious spirit is a contented spirit. The doctrine of contentment is very superlative, and till we have learned this, we have not learned to be Christians."

"Contentment is a hard lesson. If our first parents clothed with innocency had not learned to be content, O how hard shall we find it, who are full of corruption!"

"To bid a natural man to live by faith, and when things go cross, be contented, you bid him do what he hath no skill in."

"To live contented upon God in the deficiency of outward comforts, is an art which "flesh and blood hath not learned;" nay, many of God's own children, who excel in other duties of religion, when they come to contentment, how they do bungle. They have scarce become masters of this art."

"Highlights" from Chapter 5...

"1. We must be sensible of our condition and humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God."

"2. We must pray. When any burden is upon the spirit, prayer gives vent, and it easeth the heart. "Hannah, having prayed, and wept, she went away, and was sad no more." "

"The difference between a holy complaint and a discontented complaint; in one we complain to God, in the other we complain of God."

"3. We must forego: ~ vexatious repining (murmuring) ~ uneven discomposure (being easily agitated, defeated, and confused) ~ childish despondency (uninformed depression)

The Art of Divine Contentment - Part 1

2009-12-14T07:06:00.005-05:00

The Art of Divine Contentment: An Exposition of Philippians 4:11

"I have learned, in whatsoever state I am in, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11

A quote from the FOREWORD by C.H.Spurgeon: "Although Thomas Watson issued several most valuable books, comparatively little is known of him - even the dates of his birth and death are unknown. His writings are his best memorial; perhaps he needed no other, and therefore providence forbade the superfluity."

"Highlights" from Chapter 1 An Introduction to the Text...

"Care when it is eccentric, either distrustful or distracting, is very dishonourable to God"

(The meaning behind some of these words seem to change over time, so using my Webster's 1828 dictionary, I translated the above quote to...)

Discontentment, which is deviation from divine law, comes either from not trusting in God or because of distractions away from heavenly things; both dishonor God.

"Highlights" from Chapter 2 The First Branch of the Text...

"I have learned"

"not "I have heard" thus..."

"It is not enough for Christians to hear their duty but they must learn their duty."

"Christians hear much, but it is feared, learn little."

"How can you say you have 'learned' what sin is, if you have not learned to leave sin! You have not learned - you have heard. Will you have learned what a viper is, yet still play with it?"

"A man may know much of Christ - so did the devils."
"A man may preach Christ - so did Judas."
"A man may profess Christ - there are many professors that Christ will not profess (Matt.7:22-23)

"To learn Christ is to believe in Him."
"To learn Christ is to love Christ."
"To learn Christ is to be made like Christ."

21 Posts To Go!

2009-12-11T06:00:00.002-05:00

Well, I have posted 79 times since I started this blog in April! That means there is 21 more to go before my BIG 100th BLOG GIVEAWAY!!! I've never done a giveaway, so this will be my first and I am very excited about it!!! It's going to be a very special 'edification' gift!!! So, I hope you'll stay tuned and be looking forward to it.

In the meantime, I would like to do something new on my blog...

I'm calling it a: "Book Highlight".

What I would like to do is share some of my favorite books with you by giving you the "highlights" of each chapter! For those of you who are not "readers" you will really enjoy these little snippets of edification. And for those of you who are avid readers, hopefully it will inspire you to read the whole book!

The first book I would like to "highlight" is: The Art of Divine Contentment by Thomas Watson. This is the most powerful book I've ever read on the fruit of contentment and I know it will be of the utmost encouragement to you. I pray you'll be faithful to follow along and reap the fruits of this labor for the glory of God.

Happy Anniversary!

2009-12-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

This past Friday, Jamey & I celebrated our 16th Wedding Anniversary!

For those of you who know us well, you know the INCREDIBLE testimony God has so graciously given us over the years...and today, we want to give Him all the honor, praise, and glory!

Thank you Father for your patient loving kindness towards two depraved sinners such as us! We love you and praise your Holy Name! Thank you for never leaving nor forsaking us. Thank you for 16 wonderful years of guidance and protection. Words cannot express our eternal gratitude for all Your grace and mercy. We look forward to spending all eternity worshipping You in the splendor of holiness! Thank you Lord, we love you!

A Cherished Memory...

(Yes, that's mud on my arm... We were mud-boggin!

It's good to laugh and play and act like kids every now and then :)

A song for my hubby...

You're Still The One

Shania Twain

(when I first saw you, I saw love.

and the first time you touched me, I felt love.

and after all this time, you’re still the one I love.)

Looks like we made it

Look how far we’ve come my baby

We mighta took the long way

We knew we’d get there someday

They said, ’i bet they’ll never make it’

But just look at us holding on

We’re still together still going strong

You’re still the one I run to

The one that I belong to

You’re still the one I want for life

You’re still the one that I love

The only one I dream of

You’re still the one I kiss good night

Ain’t nothin’ better

We beat the odds together

I’m glad we didn’t listen

Look at what we would be missin’

I’m so glad we made it

Look how far we’ve come my baby

I love you Jamey and I'm very thankful for the 16 years we've shared together. I pray there be MANY more to come.

Treasure, Rejoice, and Delight

2009-12-07T13:52:00.010-05:00

Psalm 119:11-16

11. Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.

12. Blessed are You, O LORD;
Teach me Your statutes.

13. With my lips I have told of
All the ordinances of Your mouth.

14. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
As much as in all riches.

15. I will meditate on Your precepts
And regard Your ways.

16. I shall delight in Your statutes;
I shall not forget Your word.

God is glorified not only by His glories being seen, but by its being rejoiced in. When those that see it delight in it, God is more glorified than if they only see it. ~ John Piper

Homo Unius Libri

2009-12-01T14:27:00.009-05:00

I have thought I am a creature of a day, passing through life as an arrow through the air. I am a spirit come from God and returning to God; just hovering over the great gulf, till a few moments hence I am no more seen. I drop into an unchangeable eternity! I want to know one thing, the way to heaven - how to land safe on that happy shore. God himself has condescended to teach the way: for this very end he came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. O give me that book! At any price give me the Book of God! I have it. Here is knowledge enough for me. Let me be homo unius libri [a man of one book].

~ John Wesley 1746

Reformation & Revival

2009-11-28T06:00:00.000-05:00

Here is a quote from Death in the City by Francis A. Schaeffer...

The church in our generation needs reformation, revival and constructive revolution. At times men think of the two words, reformation and revival as standing in contrast to one another, but this is a mistake. Both words are related to the word restore.

Reformation refers to a restoration to pure doctrine, revival refers to a restoration in the Christian life. Reformation refers to a return to the teachings of scripture; revival speaks of a life brought into it's proper relationship to the Holy Spirit.

The great moments of church history have come when these two restorations have simultaneously come into action so that the church has returned to pure doctrine and the lives of the Christians in the church have known the power of the Holy Spirit. There cannot be true revival unless there has been reformation and reformation is not complete without revival.

Such a combination of reformation and revival would be revolutionary in our day.

May we be those who know the reality of both reformation and revival so that this poor dark world may have an exhibition of a portion of the church returned to both pure doctrine and Spirit filled life.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

2009-11-26T05:00:00.000-05:00

There are SO MANY things to be thankful for...where O where to begin?! Actually the problem is more...where to end! This post could go on for years and years! But since I only have a few minutes to post, I guess I'll just share a couple of things I'm eternally grateful for...

First & Foremost: My Precious Salvation!

Thank you Lord, for the gracious gift of your Son,

whose blood has atoned for my sin.

"Behold! What manner of love the Father has given unto us

that we should be called the sons of God!"

Your Precious Holy Word...

"Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."

"Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day."

Your Magnificent Creation...

"You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you."

A Happy & Blessed Marriage...

"Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him." ...For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh."

Plus 4 Wonderful Children...

"Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate."

The Gift Of Homeschooling\Homemaking...

"...tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and His might, and the wonders that He has done...so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments..."

"...admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed."

Watching Them Grow...

And Play...

And Smile...

And Laugh...

O there is just too many blessings to name!

I'm thankful for...

friends

family

church

health

protection

provision

chastisement

earthly comforts

service opportunities

PRAYER

warnings

rest

love

joy

peace

patience

kindness

goodness

faithfulness

gentleness

self-control

etc...etc..etc...

OK I'M FORCING MYSELF TO STOP NOW!!!

I pray you all have a very blessed Thanksgiving Day!

Love, Mrs.Burnsed

Spiritual Growth ~ The Valley of Vision

2009-11-25T05:32:00.000-05:00

In my last post I recommended The Valley of Vision. This book is a collection of Puritan prayers and devotions that have been a wonderful source of blessing to me over the years. You can purchase it in paperback (shown below) or in black leather. Here is sample of one of the prayers...

O THOU MOST HIGH,

In the way of thy appointment I am waiting for thee,

My desire is to thy name,

My mind to remembrance of thee.

I am a sinner, but not insensible of my state.

My iniquities are great and numberless,

but thou art adequate to my relief,

for thou art rich in mercy;

the blood of thy Son can cleanse from all sin;

the agency of thy Spirit can subdue my most powerful lusts.

Give me a tender, wakeful conscience

that can smite and torment me when I sin.

May I be consistent in conversation and conduct,

the same alone as in company,

in prosperity and adversity,

accepting all thy commandments as right,

and hating every false way.

May I never be satisfied with my present spiritual progress,

but to faith add virtue, knowledge, temperance, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity.

May I never neglect

what is necessary to constitute Christian character,

and needful to complete it.

May I cultivate the expedient,

develop the lovely, adorn the gospel,

recommend the religion of Jesus,

accommodate myself to thy providence.

Keep me from sinking or sinning in the evil day;

Help me to carry into ordinary life portions of divine truth

and use them on suitable occasions, so that

its doctrines may inform,

its warnings caution,

its rules guide,

its promises comfort me.

Sinners In The Hands Of Angry God

2009-11-23T16:37:00.006-05:00

One of the greatest sermons ever preached was by Jonathan Edwards in 1741: Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God. Click on the title to read the whole sermon or click on the picture below to purchase the audio version. I highly recommend the audio version!!! Max McLean has the most soothing voice and trust me you will need all the soothing you can get when listening to this sermon!!! It is BY FAR like nothing I've ever heard! For a lost man to sit under this sermon and walk away unaffected is a mind-boggling thought. It shook me to the core and I've already experienced God's saving grace! WARNING: THIS SERMON IS NOT FOR THE FAINT-HEARTED!

I also recommend Max McLean's: The Listener's Bible and The Valley of Vision. Then go to Radio Shack and purchase a pillow speaker. Place this tiny little speaker under your pillow at night and fall asleep listening to the Word of God or Puritan prayers from The Valley of Vision. It has been a huge blessing to me over the years and I hope it now blesses you!

In the meantime...if you'd like, here is an excerpt of the sermon to wet your appetitie...

Your wickedness makes you as it were heavy as lead, and to tend downwards with great weight and pressure towards hell; and if God should let you go, you would immediately sink and swiftly descend and plunge into the bottomless gulf, and your healthy constitution, and your own care and prudence, and best contrivance, and all your righteousness, would have no more influence to uphold you and keep you out of hell, than a spider's web would have to stop a fallen rock. Were it not for the sovereign pleasure of God, the earth would not bear you one moment; for you are a burden to it; the creation groans with you; the creature is made subject to the bondage of your corruption, not willingly; the sun does not willingly shine upon you to give you light to serve sin and Satan; the earth does not willingly yield her increase to satisfy your lusts; nor is it willingly a stage for your wickedness to be acted upon; the air does not willingly serve you for breath to maintain the flame of life in your vitals, while you spend your life in the service of God's enemies. God's creatures are good, and were made for men to serve God with, and do not willingly subserve to any other purpose, and groan when they are abused to purposes so directly contrary to their nature and end. And the world would spew you out, were it not for the sovereign hand of him who hath subjected it in hope. There are black clouds of God's wrath now hanging directly over your heads, full of the dreadful storm, and big with thunder; and were it not for the restraining hand of God, it would immediately burst forth upon you. The sovereign pleasure of God, for the present, stays his rough wind; otherwise it would come with fury, and your destruction would come like a whirlwind, and you would be like the chaff of the summer threshing floor.

Mother \ Daughter Quilting & Tea Party

2009-11-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

This past Monday several mothers and daughters joined together for our 2nd Annual Mother\Daughter Quilting & Tea Party. It was a big success with 37 in attendance! Several other families wanted to come but couldn't and three families were unable to attend due to illness...The Barr's, The Cases's, & The Dimillo's...hope you're feeling better soon...we missed you all and hope to see you next year!

Here are some pics for you to enjoy...

Mom had to get in a quick photo shoot before everyone arrived...

22 pictured, but doesn't include Lauren or the Brower girls :(

9 moms pictured but missing Mrs. Brower

Maybe I should explain...

The Brower's cows got out that morning causing them to be late!

But I did get some pics after they arrived!

The Browers!

The Smith's

The Bryl's

The Hope's

The Johnson's

The Burnsed's

The Lynn's

The Feldman's

The Sparling's

The Reedy's

Alyssa

Lilly Ann

Michelle

Debbie & Laura

Making a quilt...

I love Berry's smile :)

Bethany

For a moment it looked like they were praying :)

How sweet is this?

Hi Provvy!

Brianna & Leah

LillyAnn & Bethany

Mrs. Hope giving Alaina knitting lessons

Becky teaching Susanna...how sweet :)

Lots of little moma's that day :)

Girl talk...

What sweet fellowship...

The little ones really enjoyed visiting under the tree

I love the homemade dresses...so feminine

They're gonna make good moma's one day!

Fun! Fun! Day...

Lauren's Giveaway!

2009-11-19T15:27:00.002-05:00

Please go over to http://www.acornerpillar.blogspot.com/ and enter to win Lauren's Giveaway!

Communist Rules for Revolution 1919

2009-11-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

In case you've been wondering exactly what the Communist is seeking to do here in America, I've copied their "Rules for Revolution" for you. It is very scary to see just how many of their ideals have become a reality.

Communist Rules for Revolution 1919:

“Corrupt the young; get them away from religion. Get them interested in sex. Make them superficial; destroy their ruggedness.”

“Get control of all means of publicity, thereby:

-get people’s minds off their government by focusing their attention on athletics, sexy books and plays, and other trivialities.

-divide the people into hostile groups by constantly harping on controversial matters of no importance.

-destroy the peoples faith in their natural leaders by holding the latter up to contempt, ridicule and disgrace.

-always preach true democracy, but seize power as fast and ruthlessly as possible.

-by encouraging government extravagance, destroying its credit, produce fear of inflation with rising prices and general discontent.

-incite unnecessary strikes in vital industries, encourage civil disorders, and foster a lenient and soft attitude on the part of government toward such disorders.

-by specious argument, cause the breakdown of the old moral virtues-honesty, sobriety, self-restraint, faith in the pledged word, ruggedness.

“Cause the registration of all firearms on some pretext, with a view to confiscating them and leaving the population helpless.”

Our proper response...

2 Chron. 7:14 If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Head-Knowledge vs. Heart-Knowledge

2009-11-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and ALL discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11

Question: Why didn't the text say...that your love may abound still more and more in ALL knowledge and discernment? Why just...in ALL discernment? What's the difference? And why one over another?

Answer: First, lets look at the definition of these two words.

knowledge: a clear and certain perception of that which exists, or of truth and fact; learning; illumination of the mind.

discernment: the act of distinguishing; knowing; judging; also, the power or faculty of the mind to distinguish one thing from another, as truth from falsehood and virtue from vice; the power of perceiving differences of things or ideas, and their relations & tendencies.

In other words, knowledge is what takes place in the head. It is you affirming in your mind something to exist or be true or false. Discernment however, is what takes place in the heart as a result of what's in the head. Let me put it this way, (for a Christian) knowledge is your mental assent to understanding theology (God) and discernment is the ability (and desire) to apply the truths you now understand.

So why the emphasis on discernment?
Lets look at some other scriptures...

1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

1 Corinthians 8:1
Knowledge [alone] puffs up, but love edifies.

In other words, knowledge without love [ie. application] makes us haughty and profits us nothing. This is what separates or sets us apart from the world. Anyone can obtain knowledge. In fact, the devil has more knowledge about God [ie. correct theology] than we do. But the difference is...he does not love God and therefore does not apply God's truths!

THEREFORE...

this I pray,
that your love [1 Cor. 13:4-8, Gal.5:22-23, Eph. 5:1-2, 1 Th. 4:9-11, etc...]
may abound still [continue to grow] more and more
in knowledge [of God, ie. theology]
and in all discernment [application of theology, ie. Godly living]
that you may approve [distinguish & establish]
the things that are excellent, [the right priorities]
that you may be [continually fixed upon]
sincere [genuine & without hypocrisy]
and without offense [blameless, without fault, above reproach]
till the day of Christ, [when you see Him face to face]
being filled with [by the Holy Spirit]
the fruits of righteousness [Galatians 5:22-23 & James 3:17-18]
which are by Jesus Christ, [by His grace]
to the glory and praise of God. [1Cor.10:31]
~Philippians 1:9-11

Barberville 2009

2009-11-11T09:10:00.026-05:00

Anna & Emily

How sweet the sound...

Lacy Jo

Beautiful Becca was amazing on her fiddle :)

The guys...

So many sweet families to fellowship with...

I wish I had more pictures of everyone: The Smith's,

The Stone's, The Hope's, The Brower's, The Fitzgeralds,

The Sparling's, The Gaffney's, The Lynn's, The Foster's,

The Fredrick's, The Case's.... Oh! it was such a blessed

time of fellowship! Thank you Lord :)

I think even the wee ones were happy & blessed!

Dancing anyone?

Lacy & I decided to dance outside the barn :)

Brianna, Leah, & Lacy

Sawgrass Island Loners

Love their music!!!

They remind me of one of my favorite

gospel bluegrass bands...Third Time Out!

Fiddlin' Krickets

Very musically talented also...

Great job Krickets!!!

The Stone Family Band

Lovely. Lovely. Lovely.

I think I enjoyed singing Amazing Grace

together the most :)

Love you guys!!!!

The Young Burnsed Band?

The Three Amigos?

The Dazzling Trio?

Well, they don't offically have a name yet...

but maybe in the future :)

Where'd those peacocks go?

Awww how cute?

What a fun day...I'm already looking forward to next year!!!

Where Is Your Heart Rooted?

2009-11-10T09:11:00.000-05:00

In contrast to the wise woman,
the foolish woman is not content to be a keeper at home.
She is not satisfied with where God has put her.

One of the things the feminist movement has done so successfully
is to stir up discontent in women with being homemakers
and to convince them that other pursuits
can increase their sense of self-worth …

Fueling discontent and pushing women out of their homes
in search of greater meaning and satisfaction
has resulted in off-the-chart stress levels for many women
who can no longer survive without pills and therapists …

The greatest spiritual, moral, and emotional protection
a woman will ever experience
is found when she is content to stay
within her God-appointed sphere.

This does not mean that she never leaves her house,
but rather that her heart is rooted in her home
and that she puts her family’s needs
above all other interests and pursuits."

~ Nancy Leigh DeMoss ~
Biblical Womanhood in the Home

Ungodly Playfellows

2009-11-08T06:00:00.001-05:00

“Keep your children as much as may be from ill company, especially of ungodly playfellows. It is one of the greatest dangers for the undoing of children in the world; especially when they are sent to common schools: for there is scarce any of those schools so good, but hath many rude and ungodly ill-taught children in it.”

Richard Baxter, Christian Directory, Part II, Ch. X, Direct. XV.

Making Much of God

2009-11-06T06:00:00.004-05:00

John Piper is one of my favorite pastor\authors. I've read almost all of his books and it never ceases to amaze me how much closer I am drawn to my Lord through his writings. I do not idolize this man. I am just very thankful to God for his ministry to me through him. Hebrews 13:7 reminds us that we should, "Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith."

So, today I'm obeying the command to remember 'one who has spoken the Word of God' to me and praying that I might be able to 'imitate his deep and profound faith' in the Lord.

Here are some of his quotes and I pray that they draw you Godward too...

Love is doing whatever you have to do, at whatever cost to yourself, in order to help another person stop finding pleasure in being made much of, and help them get to the mature God-besoughted, Christ-exalting, joyfully self-forgetting ----delight---- in making much of God for the sake of others.

Grace is the pleasure of God
to magnify the worth of God
by giving sinners the right and power to delight in God
without obscuring the glory of God.

When we hope in God, we glorify God as the fountain of deep and lasting joy.
When we pray, we give expression to that God-glorifying hope.
And when we obey with joy, we prove that the God of All-Satisfying Hope is real in our lives.

Not what we dutifully will but what we passionately want reveals our excellence or evil.

God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.

Living By The Book

2009-11-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

You are either in the Word and the Word is conforming you to the image of Jesus Christ, or you are in the world and the world is squeezing you into its mold.

What is the aim of the Bible? That you may grow (1Peter 2:2). Please note, it is not that you may know. Certainly you can't grow without knowing. But you can know and not grow! The Bible was written not to satisfy your curiosity but to help you conform to Christ's image.
~Howard Hendricks

If you really want the best book ever on: The Art and Science of Reading the Bible...Here it is!!! Just click on the book...it will take you to amazon.com and you can purchase right now!!!

This book covers topics like:
Why to study the Bible?

Step 1: Observation
How to Observe the scriptures
Ten Strategies to First-Rate Reading
Certain Things to Look For
How to Get the Big Picture

Step 2: Interpretation
The Value of Interpretation
Five Keys to Interpretation
How to Put It All Together

Step 3: Application
Four Steps in Application
Nine Questions to Ask in Application
The Process of Life-Change
and much more...

BIBLE STUDY IS ESSENTIAL TO SPIRITUAL MATURITY
Hebrews 5:11-14
Concerning {Christ} we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

BIBLE STUDY IS ESSENTIAL TO SPIRITUAL EFFECTIVENESS
2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

If any of my readers have used this book, please share some helpful insights you've gleaned from it as inspiration to those who haven't read it yet!!

Birthday "Boot" Shopping - You Vote!

2009-11-02T15:44:00.001-05:00

My Dear Hubby is taking me boot shopping for my birthday tomorrow! Yippee! Which pair do you like?

#1 Victorian Style

#2 Wingtip

#3 Short Ariat

#4 Rowdy Girl

#5 Justin

#6 Heart

#6 Daisy

Life-Changing Discovery

2009-11-01T05:08:00.000-05:00

How George Mueller Started His Day

George Mueller (1805-1898) is famous for establishing orphanages in England and for joyfully depending on God for all his needs. How did he kindle this joy and faith? In 1841 he made a life-changing discovery. The testimony of this from his autobiography has proved to be of tremendous value in my life and I pray it will also bear fruit in yours:

While I was staying at Nailworth, it pleased the Lord to teach me a truth, irrespective of human instrumentality, as far as I know, the benefit of which I have not lost, though now...more than forty years have since passed away.

The point is this: I saw more clearly than ever, that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy in the Lord. The first thing to be concerned about was not, how much I might serve the Lord, how I might glorify the Lord; but how I might get my soul into a happy state, and how my inner man might be nourished. For I might seek to set the truth before the unconverted, I might seek to benefit believers, I might seek to relieve the distressed, I might in other ways seek to behave myself as it becomes a child of God in this world; and yet, not being happy in the Lord and not being nourished and strengthened in my inner man day by day, all this might not be attended to in a right spirit.

Before this time my practice had been, at least for ten years previously, as an habitual thing, to give myself to prayer, after having dressed the morning. Now I saw, that the most important thing I had to do was to give myself to the reading of the Word of God and to meditation on it, that thus my heart might be comforted, encouraged, warned, reproved, instructed; and that thus, whilst meditation, my heart might be brought into experimental, communion with the Lord. I began therefore, to meditate on the New Testament, from the beginning, early in the morning.

The first thing I did, after having asked in a few words the Lord’s blessing upon His precious Word, was to begin to meditate on the Word of God; searching, as it were, into every verse, to get blessing out of it; not for the sake of the public ministry of the Word; not for the sake of preaching on what I had meditated upon; but for the sake of obtaining food for my own soul. The result I have found to be almost invariably this, that after a very few minutes my soul has been led to confession, or to thanksgiving, or to intercession, or to supplication; so that though I did not, as it were, give to prayer but to meditation, yet it turned almost immediately more or less to prayer.

When thus I have been for awhile making confession, or intercession, or supplication, or have given thanks, I go on to the next words or verse, turning all, as I go on, into prayer for myself or others, as the Word may lead to it; but still continually keeping before me that food for my own soul is the object of meditation. The result of this is, that there is always a good deal of confession, thanksgiving, supplication, or intercession mingled with my meditation, and that my inner man almost invariably is even sensibly nourished and strengthened and that by breakfast time, with rare exceptions, I am in a peaceful if not happy state of heart. Thus also the Lord is pleased to communicate unto me that which, very soon after, I have found to become food for other believers, though it was not for the sake of the public ministry of the Word that I have myself to meditation, but for the profit of my own inner man.

The difference between my former practice and my present one is this. Formerly, when I rose, I began to pray as soon as possible, and generally spent all my time till breakfast in prayer, or almost all the time. At all events I almost invariably began with prayer.... But what was the result? I often spent a quarter of an hour, or half an hour, or even an hour on my knees, before being conscious to myself of having derived comfort, encouragement, humbling of soul, etc.; and often after having suffered much from wandering of mind for the first ten minutes, or a quarter of an hour, or even half an hour, I only then began really to pray.

I scarcely ever suffer now in this way. For my heart being nourished by the truth, being brought into experimental fellowship with God, I speak to my Father, and to my Friend (vile though I am, and unworthy of it!) about the things that He has brought before me in His precious Word.

It often now astonished me that I did not sooner see this. In no book did I ever read about it. No public ministry ever brought the matter before me. No private intercourse with a brother stirred me up to this matter. And yet now, since God has taught me this point, it is as plain to me as anything, that the first thing the child of God has to do morning-by-morning is to obtain food for his inner man.

As the outward man is not fit for work for any length of time, except we take food, and as this is one of the first things we do in the morning, so it should be with the inner man. We should take food for that, as every one must allow. Now what is the food for the inner man; not prayer, but the Word of God; and here again not the simple reading of the Word of God, so that it only passes through our minds, just as water runs through a pipe, but considering what we read, pondering over it, and applying it to our hearts....

I dwell so particularly on this point because of the immense spiritual profit and refreshment I am conscious of having derived from it myself, and I affectionately and solemnly beseech all my fellow-believers to ponder this matter. By the blessing of God I ascribe to this mode the help and strength which I have had from God to pass in peace through deeper trials in various ways than I had ever had before; and after having now above forty years tried this way, I can most fully, in the fear of God, commend it. How different when the soul is refreshed and made happy early in the morning, from what it is when, without spiritual preparation, the service, the trials and the temptations of the day come upon one!

Happiness Obtained ~ George Mueller

2009-10-30T05:29:00.000-04:00

George Mueller (1805-1898)

How shall we learn to enjoy God?

How shall we obtain such an all-sufficient soul-satisfying portion in Him as shall enable us to let go the things of this world as vain and worthless in comparison?

I answer, This happiness is to be obtained through the study of the Holy Scriptures...

...When we became a little acquainted with God our true happiness commenced; and the more we became acquainted with Him, the more truly happy we become.

What will make us so exceedingly happy in heaven? It will be the fuller knowledge of God. ~George Mueller

Smith's GIVEAWAY

2009-10-28T18:39:00.004-04:00

Go on over to www.smithseasonsoflife.blogspot.com

and join in the fun GIVEAWAY!!!

How to Obtain Joy

2009-10-27T10:18:00.009-04:00

The fight for joy is a struggle to trust God with the burdens of life. It is a fight for freedom from worry. It is a fight for hope and peace and joy, which are all threatened by unbelief and doubt about God's promises.

It is a fight to join Jesus on the Calvary road and stay there with Him, no matter what.

How was He sustained on that road?
Hebrews 12:2 answers, "For the joy that was set before Him He endured the cross."
In other words, He trusted God and knew that God would not disappoint in death.

How do we obtain that kind of joy in God?
By hearing the Word of the cross and preaching it to ourselves...

I believe in the power of the indwelling Word of God to
solve a thousand problems before they happen,
and to heal a thousand wounds after they happen,
and to kill a thousand sins in the moment of temptation,
and to sweeten a thousand days with the "drippings of honeycomb."
~John Piper

The main art in the matter of spiritual living is to know how to handle yourself. You have to take yourself in hand, you have to address yourself, preach to yourself, question yourself…You must turn on yourself, upbraid yourself, condemn yourself, exhort yourself, and say to yourself: “Hope thou in God” ---instead of muttering in this depressed, unhappy way, and then you must go on to remind yourself of God, Who God is, and what God has done, and what God has pledged Himself to do.
~Martin Lloyd-Jones

"Blessed [or happy] is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor stands in the path of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
planted by the rivers of water,
that brings forth its fruit in its season,
whose leaf also shall not wither;
and whatever he does shall prosper."
Psalm 1:1-3

Some excerpts taken from When I Don't Desire God, How to Fight For Joy by John Piper

Rooted in Goodness

2009-10-25T06:00:00.001-04:00

Several years ago I heard a sermon on 1 Peter 1:6-9, and here are some notes I took along with it...

1 Peter 1:6-9

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

Notes:

It is merciful of God to bring trials upon us.

Our responses to our trials will be the result of our knowledge and understanding of God.

We can only endure as much suffering as God is precious to us.

There is an aspect of our Christian walk that can only be grown by suffering.

What is worse than this circumstance? Dishonoring God in it.

People often ask, What possible good could come of this? Answers: Your salvation, the salvation of others, your sanctification, and\or the sanctification of others.

Most people know that God can provide something good out of these trials but they doubt whether He will...in other words they doubt His goodness.

God's sovereignty is rooted in His goodness.

In Faithfulness You Afflict

2009-10-23T17:45:00.001-04:00

For the last two weeks, the Lord has been with me in the fiery furnace, mercifully burning off the dross. I have no idea how long we will be enjoying our stay together, and though it is excruciating, I am thankful that He is sanctifying and sustaining me...To Him Be All Glory, Honor, and Praise!!!

Psalm 119
71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.

75. I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right,
and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.

92. Unless Your law had been my delight,
I would have perished in my affliction.

Psalm 34
17. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,
and delivers them out of all their troubles.

1. I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

3. Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt His name together!

Piper Interviews Wilson

2009-10-20T13:56:00.003-04:00

Go to American Vision and purchase the movie Collision!!!!

Patient Faith

2009-10-18T07:51:00.000-04:00

In the issue of faith, the chief weapon is the Word.

Psalm 130:5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits and
in His Word do I hope.

From this passage you can see that the strength that sustains waiting is hope
and the power behind hope is the Word.

Psalm 119:97 Oh, how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.

How Firm a Foundation

2009-10-16T12:22:00.000-04:00

"How Firm a Foundation, Ye Saints of the Lord"
by "Keen," 1787

1. How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said
Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?

2. In every condition, -- in sickness, in health,
In poverty's vale, or abounding in wealth,
At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea, --
The Lord, the Almighty, they strength e'er shall be.

3. "Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

4. "When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee thy troubles to bless
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

5. "When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply.
The flames shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

6. "The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I will not, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never, forsake!"

Bitter Sweet

2009-10-15T15:09:00.003-04:00

Ah my deare angrie Lord,
Since thou dost love, yet strike;
Cast down, yet help afford;
Sure I will do the like.
I will complain, yet praise;
I will bewail, approve:
And all my sowre-sweet dayes
I will lament, and love.

George Herbert 1633

Or as the apostle Paul put it for all the saints who are fighting for joy in this fallen world of pain and suffering, we live and minister "as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing" 2 Cor.6:10

excerpt taken from When The Darkness Does Not Lift by John Piper

To Those That Fear God

2009-10-07T19:18:00.000-04:00

John Wesley (1703-1791) on education:

" Let it be remembered, that I do not speak to the wild, giddy, thoughtless world, but to those that fear God. I ask, then, for what end do you send you children to school? “Why, that they may be fit to live in the world.” In which world do you mean, — this or the next? Perhaps you thought of this world only; and had forgot that there is a world to come; yea, and one that will last for ever! Pray take this into your account, and send them to such masters as will keep it always before their eyes. Otherwise, to send them to school (permit me to speak plainly) is little better than sending them to the devil. At all events, then, send your boys, if you have any concern for their souls, not to any of the large public schools, (for they are nurseries of all manner of wickedness,) but private school, kept by some pious man, who endeavours to instruct a small number of children in religion and learning together."

Virtuous Women & Homemaking

2009-10-02T12:54:00.000-04:00

A Biblical Apologetic Celebrating the Homemaking Tasks of a Virtuous Woman

Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense, to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear (1Peter 3:15)…….

1Timothy 5:14 and Titus 2:4-5 lay some of the foundational instructions for the design of the home. The younger women should marry, bear children, manage the home, and give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. They are to love their husbands, love their children, be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, and obedient to their husbands, so that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
Well, how does she go about this array of tasks? The virtuous woman will first and foremost approach every task with the goal of glorifying God (1Corinthians 10:31). She will strive to be holy just as He is holy (1Peter 1:15), knowing that her fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). Therefore, she is devoted to fervent prayer, study, meditation, and memorization of God’s Word (Colossians 3:16).
She begins with being submissive to her husband in everything (Ephesians 5:22) and does not deprive him of the affections due him (1Corinthians 7:5). She also conducts herself in a chaste and trustworthy manner; therefore the heart of her husband safely trusts her (Proverbs 31:11). All the days of her life are spent doing him good and not evil (Proverbs 31:12). She carefully strives to become the beautiful picture of the helpmeet God intended her to be (Genesis 2:18).
Her children are her next focus. She faithfully tries to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4), knowing that she will give an account one day for the way she educated these precious gifts (Matthew 12:36-37). Therefore, she diligently teaches them the word of God while they sit in their house, when they walk by the way, when they rise up, and when they lie down (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). She sets the example in thirsting for God as the deer pants for the water (Psalm 42:1). Because she does not eat the bread of idleness (Proverbs 31:27) her children are treated like the precious gifts that they are (Psalm 127:3). All her days are spent trying to redeem the time with her children and husband because she knows the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16).
The people of the community praise her because she willingly extends her hand to the poor, needy, and fatherless (Proverbs 31:20). On her tongue is the law of kindness (Proverbs 31:26) and nothing is done through selfish ambition but in lowliness of mind she esteems others better than herself (Philippians 2:3).
Her house now becomes a home because of her love for Christ, her love for His people and her dedication to her family. In her home there is an atmosphere of love and unity. You are greeted with welcoming arms and a friendly smile. All who enter are blessed and encouraged. The children are obedient and play nicely together. There is a sweet sense of peace and safety from the world. It is full of laughter, smiles, edifying speech and praises to God for His Son Jesus Christ.
Because this woman strongly believes in the sovereignty of God (Psalm 115:3), she has learned to be content in every situation (Philippians 4:11). Her motivation and her hope come from knowing that she is a recipient of redemption by grace (Romans 3:23-24) and that God will complete the good work He has begun in her (Philippians 1:6). In conclusion, she celebrates all the tasks of her womanhood because it is in her pursuit of these God-given tasks that she feels most fulfilled and thus her God is most glorified.

Be Thou My Vision

2009-09-29T06:08:00.000-04:00

Below are the lyrics to Be Thou My Vision...

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

Calvinist - Arminian Conversation

2009-09-27T06:03:00.000-04:00

Here is an example of how Charles Simeon (a Calvinist) conversed with the elderly John Wesley (an Arminian):

Sir, I understand that you are called an Arminian; and I have been sometimes called a Calvinist; and therefore I suppose we are to draw daggers. But before I consent to begin the combat, with your permission I will ask you a few questions. Pray, Sir, do you feel yourself a depraved creature, so depraved that you would never have thought of turning to God, if God had not first put it into your heart?

Yes, I do indeed.

And do you utterly despair of recommending yourself to God by anything you can do; and look for salvation solely through the blood and righteousness of Christ?

Yes, solely through Christ.

But, Sir, supposing you were at first saved by Christ, are you not somehow or other to save yourself afterwards by your own works?

No, I must be saved by Christ from first to last.

Allowing, then, that you were first turned by the grace of God, are you not in some way or other to keep yourself by your own power?

No.

What then, are you to be upheld every hour and every moment by God, as much as an infant in its mother's arms?

Yes, altogether.

And is all your hope in the grace and mercy of God to preserve you unto His heavenly kingdom?

Yes, I have no hope but in Him.

Then, Sir, with your leave I will put up my dagger again; for this is all my Calvinism; this is my election my justification by faith, my final perseverance: it is in substance all that I hold, and as I hold it; and therefore, if you please, instead of searching out terms and phrases to be a ground of contention between us, we will cordially unite in those things where in we agree.

A Couple of Pics

2009-09-25T07:00:00.000-04:00

Girls gotta learn how to shoot too!

We just finished watching Pride & Prejudice

Aren't my boys the cutest thing you ever did see?

Yum! Yum!

Reading Time :)

School Time...

The finished product...

A new skirt, made out of a bed sheet from Goodwill for $1.25

and a sweet sense of accomplishment; all while

enjoying the comforts of home and family!

Can't do that in Public School! :)

"Unless the Lord builds the house,

those who build it, labor in vain." Ps.127:1

Judging Ministries

2009-09-23T07:00:00.000-04:00

I don't know how many of you read the blog posts of Kevin Swanson or listen to him on the radio...but here are a few excerpts from a post Kevin did recently on 'how to make judgements concerning the churches we attend and the ministries we connect with':

...All of us draw some conclusions concerning Focus on the Family, Answers in Genesis, Reasons to Believe, Desiring God Ministries, Christian Home Educators of Colorado, the PCA, the Southern Baptists, the ELCA, the Mennonite Brethren, the OPC, or New Life Church in Colorado Springs. If you have have any contact with or knowledge of a local church or ministry, usually you will draw some conclusion about that ministry. Most of us hold some sort of opinion on the importance, the value, or the impact the ministry bears upon the kingdom of God.

Occasionally, you will run into some Christian who assumes that outside of his local church at six friends, everybody else in the world is going to hell. Such perspectives smack of a puffed-up-edness and a love that doesn't quite hope enough about his brothers.

Well then, how should we make judgements concerning the churches we attend and the ministries we connect with? Here's my take on it...

1. Some churches and ministries will be stronger than others and produce more gold, silver, and precious stones after the fire burns than others...

2. Truth and love are equally important...you need '180% Proof' Truth and '180% Proof' Truthful Living. [I believe this is a play on words...180% proof meaning: the strongest you can find; not 80% above what is revealed in scripture.]

6. You will never know the true impact of a "reformation," a movement, a church denomination, a system of government, a methodology, and a message for at least 40-50 years. By their fruits you will know them, but after all the exciting conferences and building programs, and after the fire burns, only time will tell what the ministry really produced. And there will be no exceptions to the rule. All of us will be tested for the quality of work produced over a life time.

7. Nobody bats 1000...The idea is to make it as far up Omaha Beach as you can, before you are cut down by enemy fire. The battlefield is going to be a mess the whole way to the gates of heaven.

9. Oh, one more thing - whatever you do, don't choose to affiliate with proud ministries who think they are the best ministry in the world. And once you have tossed in your hat with some particular ministry, you will begin to see the sins and weaknesses latent within the organization. Because you are not closely affiliated with other ministries therefore, you have no idea how God is working there. So to assume that you are in the best church in the area is always well beyond your ability to discern. In the final analysis, you have no idea how much more love, joy, and peace are nurtured within your congregation compared to any other. Sure, you might know all doctrine and all knowledge, and have all faith so that you can remove more mountains than that other church down the street. But you can't tell me that you have 68% more love than they do.

These are my observations after participating in many different exciting Christian movements over a lifetime.

Of the 9 points he makes, I only copied portions of them and not all 9 so, to read this post in its entirety, click here.

Nonetheless, I hope the portions shared will remind us all...
Do Not put anyone or anything up on a pedestal besides the Lord Jesus Christ!
Enjoy these ministries, enjoy your church, and enjoy the edification received by fellow believers, but NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! exalt them higher than they should be.

Appreciate the gifts, but LOVE the Giver!

Emily's Autumn Giveaway!

2009-09-22T15:42:00.003-04:00

Go to Emily's Blog and enter for a chance to win

this lovely apron and 2 matching mits!

The Veil Which Hides His Face

2009-09-21T17:47:00.000-04:00

I stood a mendicant of God
before His royal throne,
and begged Him for one priceless gift
which I could call my own.

I took the gift from out His hand
but as I would depart, I cried:
But Lord! This is a thorn
and it has pierced my heart;
this is a strange and hurtful gift
which Thou hast given me.

He said, “My child, I give good gifts
and I gave my best to thee.”
I took it home and though at first
the cruel thorn hurt sore,
as long years past
I learned at last
to love it more and more.

I learned He never gives a thorn
without this added grace:
He takes the thorn to pin aside
the veil which hides His face.

~Martha Nicholson

I've always enjoyed this poem. It has been a sweet source of blessing in my life many times over the years and I share with you today, hoping that it will bless you too! My two favorite lines are:

1) “My child, I give good gifts
and I gave my best to thee.”

2) I learned He never gives a thorn
without this added grace:
He takes the thorn to pin aside
the veil which hides His face.

The Heart of Mental Health

2009-09-19T08:04:00.003-04:00

Last night John Piper addressed the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) at their world conference in Nashville on the topic "Beholding Glory and Becoming Whole: Seeing and Savoring God as the Heart of Mental Health."

Here is an excerpt from his address:

What It Means to Feel Loved by God

This may seem obvious, but my concern is that in preaching and in counseling we are always drifting away from the spiritually obvious to the naturally desirable—especially if the naturally desirable “works.” We are spring-loaded in our sin to feel loved only if God endorses our desire to be made much of. Almost every human being loves to be made much of. And when it happens, we feel that we are being loved. How could something so pleasing not be love?

Here is the devastating warning from Jonathan Edwards 250 years ago:

True saints have their minds, in the first place, inexpressibly pleased and delighted with the sweet ideas of the glorious and amiable nature of the things of God. And this is the spring of all their delights, and the cream of all their pleasures. . . . But the dependence of the affections of hypocrites is in a contrary order: they first rejoice . . . that they are made so much of by God; and then on that ground, he seems in a sort, lovely to them.

This is my concern. Do we make clear to people over and over again that yes, they should feel loved because Christ died for them; and yes, they should feel loved because they are undeserving and he loves them anyway; and yes, they should feel loved because their sins are forgiven and God’s wrath is removed through Christ; but to what end? Died for while undeserving. Forgiven. Wrath removed. But to what end?

And just at this point, I wonder if many of our people are left thinking that what it means to be loved by God simply that he affirms their desire to be made much of. “Christ died for me to make much of me. He rescued me while undeserving to make much of me. He forgave me to make much of me. He removed his wrath to make much of me.” Oh how gloriously good this feels! What a precious gospel! And it’s all merely natural. There’s nothing supernatural about it. It looks like recovery and healing! It works. But at root, it is not “to the praise of the glory of his grace.” It’s all to the praise of the glory of his affirmation of me.

So my second implication is that feeling loved by God means feeling glad that God not only crushed his Son for me, but that he is now crushing every vestige of desire in my life that competes with the pleasure of the praise of the glory of his grace.

You can read the whole manuscript at:
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/ConferenceMessages/ByConference/35/4216_Beholding_Glory_and_Becoming_Whole_Seeing_and_Savoring_God_as_the_Heart_of_Mental_Health/

Is Your Education Complete?

2009-09-17T19:15:00.002-04:00

Getting a Complete Education
Adapted from "To Be Educated" by Carolyn C.

If I learn my ABCs, can read 600 words per minute, and can
write with perfect penmanship,
But have not learned how to communicate with the Designer
of all language,
My education is not complete.

If I have memorized addition facts, multiplication tables,
and chemical formulas,
But have never disciplined myself to hide God's Word in my
heart,
My education is not complete.

If I can classify animals by their family, genus, and
species and can write a lengthy scientific paper that wins an
award,
But have not been introduced to the Maker's purpose for all
creation,
My education is not complete.

If I can recite the Gettysburg Address and the Preamble to
the Constitution,
But have not been informed of the hand of God in the history
of our country,
My education is not complete.

If I can play the piano, the violin, six other instruments,
and can write music that moves men to tears,
But have not learned to listen to the Director of the
universe and worship Him,
My education is not complete.

If I can run cross-country races, star in basketball, and do
100 push-ups without stopping,
But have never bent my will to do God's will,
My education is not complete.

However, if one day I see the world as God sees it and come
to know Him Whom to know is life eternal, and glorify God by
fulfilling His purpose for me,
Then, my education is complete!

The Presidents Speech vs Timothy's Childhood

2009-09-14T09:08:00.000-04:00

Unfortunately, many people are dismissing the President's speech to the children on Tuesday as "generic". This is a very sad state of affairs!!! This speech was far from "generic". If they knew the philosophies and ideologies behind the speech, they wouldn't call it "generic" at all.

But, rather than take the time to explain all those presuppositions and then rebut the whole speech, I thought I would show you two quotes from his speech and then contrast that with an example from scripture about what an education should look like. Apart from his 'push for more academics in order to better serve the country', here are two of Obama's quotes...

"Where you are right now doesn't have to determine where you'll end up. No one's written your destiny for you. Here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future."

"Today, I'm calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education — and to do everything you can to meet them."

A contrast from scripture...

From childhood Timothy was taught that God controlled his destiny and God determined 'the goals' for his life. Here are a few other things Timothy was taught…

• Read, meditate on, and master the content of Scriptures.
• Be an example in word, conduct, love, faith, and purity.
• Challenge others who hear the Word to apply it in their daily lives which some times involved rebuke, warning, encouragement, or comfort.
• Not neglect his spiritual gifts.
• Instruct (teach) others boldly and lovingly.
• Shun profane and idle babblings.
• Pray. Fight the battle against the enemies of Christ.
• Lead a quiet and peaceable life with all godliness and reverence.
• Labor and suffer reproach.
• Do nothing with partiality and prejudice.
• Withdraw himself from certain kinds of people.
• Be content and remember the brevity of this life.
• Flee foolish and harmful lusts.
• Not trust in riches.
• Guard the Truth.
• Not be ashamed to name the name of Jesus when afraid of potential persecution.
• Teach other faithful men to teach.
• Be diligent and present himself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
• Avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, which lead to strife.
• Not quarrel.
• Be patient.
• Be ready to preach in season and out of season.

This is obviously not an exhaustive list but it does show the different focus on how and what to educate our children with, as compared to today’s standard for education.

For Timothy’s childhood, eternal values and practical living skills were first and foremost, the academics were certainly needed in order to live out some of these charges but the focus of the education was not in the academics; it was in the weightiness of eternal things.

In today’s society, academics are pushed for the sake of building knowledge so that we can better serve man.

In Timothy’s day, academics seemed to be taught as way to help “conform the children into the image of Christ” that they may better serve the Lord… which in turn does help our fellow man, but in a completely different way.

Well, I hope this helps... If nothing else, I pray it will cause you to dig deeper into the philosophies and ideologies behind government-run education so that you are no longer fooled by smooth words.

Any Thoughts?

2009-09-09T12:30:00.007-04:00

Help! My mind is swimming with ideas for new posts!
But I want to know what you are interested in. :)

What type of help\edification\encouragement are you looking for?

Here are a couple of ideas that I've been planning to blog about but what are your thoughts? What do you want to see the most?

Book Reviews

Bible Studies (on a variety of topics)

Doctrinal Views (Anthropology, Soteriology, Eschatology, etc...)

Edifying Quotes (from the Bible and other godly men\women)

Family Pics

Practical Arts (cooking, sewing, organizing, homeschooling)

Politics (what's going on in the world in general)

Preparedness for TEOWTWAWKI (the end of the world as we know it)

Other____________________

Disclaimer: My goal with this blog is to use it as a means of ministry. When God saved me, He bestowed upon me a passionate love for His Word and an aspiration to share His truths with all who will listen. However, I am not God. I do not possess omniscience. In fact, I will probably fall short in a lot of areas. That's the nature of fallen man. So please, if I ever speak of 'biblical things', please check everything I say against scripture!!! If you find some error in me, please feel free to express it. You should express it. It's biblical to do so. Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

I look forward to hearing from you...

Please reply to this post or send me an email at iolaburnsed@gmail.com

Thanks! May God Bless!

Oriental Brocolli Cole Slaw

2009-09-08T15:21:00.000-04:00

Today, I thought I would take a break from 'heavy posts' and share one of life's simple delights...Food! Being that I am a country-girl through and through, most of my dishes DO NOT look like this one! However, sometimes a dish comes along that I really enjoy, and this is one of them :)

Oriental Brocolli Cole Slaw...

Crush Ramen noodles in bag. Melt 1 stick of butter in a large skillet. Add noodles, almonds, and black sesame seeds. Sauté until slightly golden. Cool on a plate covered with paper towels to absorb excess moisture.

Whisk or shake together
½ cup Canola Oil
¼ cup Makuran Rice Vinegar
½ Tbsp. Light Brown Sugar
1 Ramen noodle seasoning packet

for the dressing.

This brand is definitely the best!

You can purchase Brocolli Cole Slaw at just about any grocery store.

Combine all ingredients and dressing. Toss. Chill. Serve. Enjoy.

Holy, Holy, Holy

2009-09-06T16:21:00.004-04:00

In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on the throne, high and exalted, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above Him were two seraphs...and they were calling:

"Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of His glory."

I cried, "Woe is me!" "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty."

This Lord's day, I have a two-fold prayer right out of this passage from Isaiah 6...
1) That the Body of Christ, like Isaiah, could behold the true majesty of our great King and His holiness, so much so that it causes us to...
2) See our uncleaness and cry "Woe is me!"

The church in America for far too long has watered down the gospel of Jesus Christ. We have tried every way possible to make the 'lost' feel welcomed and comfortable but perhaps a lesson from this passage might be that...

If the church will hold up the holiness of God (meaning ALL His manifold perfections), instead of a multitude of programs, perhaps the people of this land would begin to get uncomfortable with their uncleaness.

Just a thought, inspired by today's sermon...

Poetry and Hymn

2009-09-02T19:50:00.003-04:00

I was introduced to William Cowper through John Piper's audio series: Men Of Whom The World Was Not Worthy. It is truly one of his most awe-inspiring works. I highly recommend it!!!

For those of you who don't recognize the name...William Cowper (pronounced Cooper) wrote many hymns and religious poems, collaborating often with John Newton. Some of his other works you may recognize: "Oh, For A Closer Walk With God" and "There Is A Fountain". Today, I'd like to share one of my favorite poems and hymns with you...

The Difference Between Knowledge and Wisdom
William Cowper

Knowledge and wisdom, far from being one,
Have ofttimes no connexion. Knowledge dwells
In heads replete with thoughts of other men;
Wisdom in minds attentive to their own.
Knowledge, a rude unprofitable mass,
The mere materials with which Wisdom builds,
Till smooth’d and squared and fitted to its place,
Does but encumber whom it seems to enrich.
Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much;
Wisdom is humble that he knows no more.

God Moves in Mysterious Ways
William Cowper

God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill,
He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence,
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain;
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.

In The Man of Piety...

2009-09-01T19:42:00.001-04:00

The Reverend John Witherspoon, in a Fast Day Sermon called for by the Continental Congress, in 1776 stated:

"It is in the man of piety and inward principle that we may expect to find the uncorrupted patriot, the useful citizen, and the invincible soldier, - God grant that in America true religion and civil liberty may be inseparable, and the unjust attempts to destroy the one, may in the issue tend to the support and establishment of both."

Pray For Your Enemies

2009-08-30T17:00:00.010-04:00

When is the last time you wept for your country? When is the last time you prayed for its leaders? And I don't just mean...
"Lord, have mercy on us!"
Or
"Lord, would you please take out Barack Obama!" (Don't give me that holy-look! You know you have at least thought it.)
These are NOT the type of prayers I'm talking about.

I'm talking about truly lamenting the blindness, deafness, and deadness of MOST of this nation's leaders. I'm talking about weeping over the condition of the church in this nation... Weeping for the many generations that are ignorant of the truth's in God's Word. Weeping for the church's failure to "tell the coming generations the glorious deeds of the Lord, and His might, and the wonders that He has done...lest they forget the works of God and become like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation..." Ps.78

Really, when is the last time you recounted all the unmerited gifts, blessings, and sacrifices the Lord has bestowed upon you and this nation for the last 250 years...AND THEN repented of not giving Him the glory due His name for them. Or repented for not defending your God-given faith, family, church, or freedoms.

We should repent now, that we have sinned so much and wept so little, that God's bag has been so full and His bottle so empty (Job 14:17). We should repent now that we repented no sooner. We should repent now that we have loved Christ no more, that we have fetched no more virtue from Him and brought no more glory to Him. ~ Thomas Watson

It is my earnest prayer today that God will find each of our families in repentance and prayer.

REPENTANCE:
"Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matt. 3:2

"Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." Luke 13:3

"Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out." Acts 3:19

"Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent." Rev. 2:5

PRAYER:
"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." Matt. 5:44

"Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." Matt. 9:38

"Pray without ceasing" 1Th. 5:17

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." Romans 12:12

"I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high posistions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." 1Tim. 2:1-2

Resolved - Jonathan Edwards

2009-08-30T12:58:00.001-04:00

Have you ever read The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards (1722-1723) ?

Lane and I recently read through these again and were stabbed with a renewed longing for the passion Edwards had towards glorifying God with holy conduct and godliness (2Peter 3:11). Here are just a few of the Resolutions...

5. Resolved, Never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can.

7. Resolved, Never to do any thing, which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.

8. Resolved, To act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings, as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.

10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.

20. Resolved, To maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.

24. Resolved, Whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then, both carefully endeavour to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.

25. Resolved, To examine carefully and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and so direct all my forces against it.

28. Resolved, To study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive, myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

44. Resolved, That no other end but religion shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it.

45. Resolved, Never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion.

52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, That I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age.

57. Resolved, When I fear misfortunes and adversity, to examine whether I have done my duty, and resolve to do it and let the event be just as Providence orders it. I will, as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin.

The Yellow Prison Bus & Healthcare

2009-08-29T08:25:00.003-04:00

Have you read Voddie's latest blog?

Here is an excerpt:

THE YELLOW PRISON BUS & THE FUTURE OF AMERICAN HEALTHCARE

Conservatives are up-in-arms over the Democratic healthcare scheme. From town hall meetings, to talk radio, to the internet, the voice of the people is being heard. However, I am not at all convinced that the voice of the people will ultimately make a difference in the long run. My pessimism has less to do with the sinister motives of those seeking to take over the healthcare system. On the contrary, my pessimism stems from the hypocrisy of those shouting down their representatives and claiming to be “fed up”.

While I’m sure these folks mean well, I wonder about the sincerity of their opposition in light of the fact that the overwhelming majority of them (between eighty and eighty-five percent) have already accepted everything they claim to abhor about the healthcare plan. Some have already exposed this irony as it relates to Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security (full disclosure: I’ve opted out of Social Security and am proud to say that I am not anticipating one thin dime from the American government in my old age). However, I’m not talking about these long existing socialist programs, I’m talking about the #1 socialist welfare program in America, the public school system!

There are striking similarities between government-run education and the government-run healthcare bill currently under consideration in Congress. And it is precisely these similarities that will eventually cause the American people to lay down and take whatever the government gives them, and eventually be willing to fight and die for them. Remember, there was public outrage over government education (and Social Security) as well when it was first proposed (see the quotes here). However, nearly one hundred and fifty years later the overwhelming majority of Americans gladly put their children on the yellow prison bus every day (yes, they are the same type of busses used to transport prisoners).

JUST SAY NO TO SOCIALISM

One of the mantras we hear repeatedly these days is, “we don’t want socialism.” While that sounds good (and conservative, and constitutional, and patriotic, etc.), it rings hollow when you consider the overwhelming majority of the people leading the charge have their children in what amounts to socialized education. What’s the difference? If you’re really against government-run, socialized programs, yank your kid off the yellow prison bus and just say no.

To read more click here.

Your Right, Your Duty!

2009-08-27T16:40:00.001-04:00

An excerpt from the Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Several things I would like to point out...
#1 We the People, are still in control! It may not seem like it and it may not feel like it, but we are! Government only retains its power by OUR CONSENT. Therefore, if we want to change the direction of this country, we can no longer give our consent to the tyrannical pushes towards absolute Despotism. We must speak out against all abuses and usurpations and do all that we can to abolish these evils, including if need be, once all other avenues have been exhausted, throw off this government!!!

#2 I do not make the first statement lightly. It is a scary thing to consider and ponder throwing off our government. And I certainly agree that it should NOT be done for light and transient causes. It grieves my spirit to no end that these are even thoughts that I have to ponder and I pray, I pray, I pray that it will not come to this! However, I musn't let my fear of man nor shall I let what "experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed"
keep me from my duty. Why? Because the Glory of God is at stake here! We must stand up for what is Just and True and Right.
In a different context, but with the same principle being applicable, God said, "I'd rather you be hot or cold, but because you are lukewarm, I will spit you out of My mouth!" PERHAPS, this is exactly why we find ourselves where we do in this country! We've been lukewarm (if not cold!) for too long!!! God have mercy on us!

#3 Please take 10 minutes out of your day and reread the whole Declaration of Independence! Read the list of grievances and ponder the idea of Petitioning for Redress. Think about our current form of government and how many of the King's abuses line up with our Leader. Yes, the King has done things that our government has not (yet!) but a thorough examination of the King's ideology (which is a lot of the same ideology behind our Leader) will certainly lead to these things. Be vigilant and pray for our nation and our leaders.

God only knows the outcome of this chapter in our history. Our duty is simply to trust His Providential Care and Superintendence. The good news is, we can rest in knowing that the final chapter (victory) is already decided. Of which, I hope to blog about soon for those who have not studied it much.

However, in the mean-time, like the Reformers, who never could've imagined the impact of their labor against tyranny; we too must do all that we can, by God's strength, to fight the forces of evil and uphold the Truths from His Word.

Nevertheless...

Not my will, but Thine be done, Oh Lord my God;

My Rock and my Deliverer.

"The One"

2009-08-26T07:30:00.003-04:00

I read this letter in an email today. It is written in biblical prose as a commentary of current events. It's author is unknown. The substance of the prose refers to Barack Obama as "The One", not to insinuate that he is the Antichrist or anything, but rather that it is the nickname given to him by the media. Unfortunately, this prose is accurate in it's depiction of our current situation and should be a reminder to all of us that we as Christians need to DO SOMETHING!

And it came to pass in the Age of Insanity that the people of
the land called America, having lost their morals, their initiative,
and their will to defend their liberties, chose as their Supreme
Leader that person known as "The One".

He emerged from the vapors with a message that had no meaning; but
He hypnotized the people telling them, "I am sent to save you.
My lack of experience, my questionable ethics, my monstrous ego,
and my association with evil doers are of no consequence. For I
shall save you with Hope and Change..
Go, therefore, and proclaim throughout the land that he who
preceded me is evil, that he has defiled the nation, and that all he
has built must be destroyed." And the people rejoiced, for even
though they knew not what "The One" would do, he had promised
that it was good; and they believed.

And "The One" said "We live in the greatest country in the world. Help me change everything about it!"
And the people said, "Hallelujah! Change is good!"

Then He said, "We are going to tax the rich fat-cats." And the
people said "Sock it to them!"

"And redistribute their wealth."

And the people said, "Show us the money!"
And then He said, "Redistribution of wealth is good for
everybody"
And Joe the plumber asked, "Are you kidding me? You're going to steal my money and give it to the deadbeats??" And "The One" ridiculed and taunted him, and Joe's personal records were hacked and publicized.
One lone reporter asked, "Isn't that Marxist policy?"
And she was banished from the kingdom!

Then a citizen asked, "With no foreign relations experience and
having zero military experience or knowledge, how will you deal with
radical terrorists?"
And "The One" said, "Simple. I shall sit with them and talk with them and show them how nice we really are; and they will forget that they ever wanted to kill us all!"
And the people said, "Hallelujah!! We are safe at last, and we can beat our weapons into free cars for the people!"

Then "The One" said, "I shall give 95% of you lower taxes."
And one, lone voice said, "But 40% of us don't pay ANY taxes."
So "The One" said, "Then I shall give you some of the taxes the fat-cats pay!"
And the people said, "Hallelujah!! Show us the money!"

Then "The One" said, "I shall tax your Capital Gains when you
sell your homes!"
And the people yawned and the slumping housing market collapsed.
And He said, "I shall mandate employer- funded health care for
EVERY worker and raise the minimum wage. And I shall give every
person unlimited health care and medicine and transportation to the
clinics."
And the people said, "Give me some of that!"

Then he said, "I shall penalize employers who ship jobs overseas."
And the people said, "Where's my rebate check?"

Then "The One" said, "I shall bankrupt the coal industry and
electricity rates will skyrocket!"
And the people said, "Coal is dirty, coal is evil, no more coal! But we don't care for that part about higher electric rates."
So "The One" said, "Not to worry. If your rebate isn't enough to cover your expenses, we shall bail you out. Just sign up with ACORN and your troubles are over!"

Then He said, "Illegal immigrants feel scorned and slighted.
Let's grant them amnesty, Social Security, free education, free
lunches, free medical care, bi-lingual signs and guaranteed
housing..."
And the people said, "Hallelujah!!" And they made him King!

And so it came to pass that employers, facing spiraling costs
and ever-higher taxes, raised their prices and laid off workers.
Others simply gave up and went out of business and the economy sank
like unto a rock dropped from a cliff. The banking industry was destroyed. Manufacturing slowed to a crawl. And more of the people were without a means of support.

Then "The One" said, "I am the "The One" - The Messiah - and I'm
here to save you! We shall just print more money so everyone will
have enough!"
But our foreign trading partners said unto Him, "Wait a minute. Your dollar is not worth a pile of camel dung! You will have to pay more..."
And the people said, "Wait a minute. That is unfair!!"
And the world said, "Neither are these other idiotic programs you have embraced. Lo, you have become a Socialist state and a second-rate power. Now you shall play by our rules!"

And the people cried out, "Alas, alas!! What have we done?"
But yea verily, it was too late. The people set upon "The One" and spat
upon him and stoned him, and his name was dung. And the once mighty nation was no more; and the once proud people were without
sustenance or shelter or hope.. And the Change "The One" had given them was as like unto a poison that had destroyed them and like a whirlwind that consumed all that they had built.
And the people beat their chests in despair and cried out in anguish, "Give us back our nation and our pride and our hope!!" But it was too late, and their homeland was no more.

You may think this is a fairy tale, but it's not.
It's happening RIGHT NOW !!!

The Lesson of the Valkyries

2009-08-24T13:40:00.001-04:00

One ministry that is a great blessing to me and I highly recommend is American Vision. If you don't get their emails, you can sign up at: http://www.americanvision.org/

This is one email that I felt compelled to pass along since it is so relevant to our nation's current situation and is a cry for Christians to DO SOMETHING about it!

Article by Eric Rauch

War is the great inevitability in this world, populated as it is with sinful men. Jesus said that we are either for Him or against Him; there is no middle ground. Although many will desperately try to avoid taking sides in the wars that rage all around us, eventually a decision must be made. Neutrality is not an option.

This principle is exemplified well in Valkyrie, Bryan Singer’s recent film about the detailed and nearly successful plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler in 1944. The story revolves around Claus von Stauffenberg, a colonel in the German army who puts allegiance to Germany before allegiance to the Fuhrer. Singer seems to hint that Stauffenberg is a Christian by having him wear a cross around his neck and flashing religious iconography on the screen when he ultimately makes up his mind to participate in the coup. By doing this, Singer shows that he understands that it is a conflict between the kingdom of man and the kingdom of God. Stauffenberg (convincingly played by Tom Cruise) agrees to take part in the plot when he realizes that Hitler not only posed a threat to Germany itself, but also to the rest of the world. His willingness to deliver a bomb to the Wolf’s Lair, where Hitler and his staff were discussing war strategy, was only part of the intricate plan, yet he did it knowing full well that he and his family would be executed if his treason was discovered. Stauffenberg counted the cost and decided it was worth the risk.

What makes Valkryie such an important movie is that it shows how much planning and coordination was necessary to pull off this act of subversion. The movie takes its name from the long-standing operation of the German war effort that would institute a contingency plan if Hitler was ever killed. The German army, and the SS in particular, were well aware that anarchy was a very real possibility if word got out that Hitler was dead; Operation Valkyrie was designed to prevent this from happening. The assassination plot — which was only one of fifteen directed against Hitler during his reign as Fuhrer — involved individuals at the highest levels of the military and the political realm of Germany. It was not simply an individual effort by one disgruntled colonel.

Organized civil disobedience is not only an option; it is a command for the Christian who finds himself torn between serving God and serving man. The Old and New Testaments are quite clear on this in the examples of the Hebrew midwives, Rahab, Daniel, Peter and John, and many others. “When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, saying, ‘We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.’ But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men’” (Acts 5:27-29). This is not to say that the Christian has a right to disobey any time he doesn’t like or agree with what men tell him he must do, but it does illustrate that the Christian has a higher authority. When Pilate told Jesus about his authority to have Him killed, Jesus replied: “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above” (John 19:11). The higher authority always has the last word.

The lesson of Valkryie is a valuable one because it effectively teaches what modern Christians are so loathe to learn: organization and calculation. As Gary North aptly puts it, “you can’t fight something with nothing.” And, I would be quick to add, “you can’t fight effectively without a plan of attack.” Christians have been watching their influence and authority drain out of modern society at a dizzying rate without so much as a peep of concern. Individual Christians are certainly doing their part and raising a fuss, but without an organized front, their abilities and success will be limited and isolated. Individuals are like shooting stars, they burn out quickly, but if a group gets together and coordinates its efforts — distributing its collective powers where they can most effective and strategic — individual effort becomes exponentially stronger.

Stauffenberg would have certainly failed were it not for the team of which he was an important and necessary component. He failed anyway, even with their support. Despite all of their planning and thoughtful execution, their goal was ultimately thwarted by a table leg. Had Stauffenberg been willing to sacrifice his own life to ensure that the plan was completed, rather than making a swift getaway, the result may have been a different one. How many of us, like Stauffenberg, will say we are willing to go to death for the cause of Christ, yet look for an escape when the time comes? As Christians, we are quick to complain and gripe about the world we see falling to pieces around us, but how many of us are actually willing to lay our lives down to see the plan through? Ironically, this is exactly what is required of us: “We know love by this, that [Jesus] laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16).

Balancing Vanity & Wisdom

2009-08-21T09:12:00.009-04:00

The summary of Ecclesiastes chapter 1...
For in much wisdom is much grief,
And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

Whether we are talking about "worldly wisdom" or "Godly wisdom", both can bring sorrow.
* Worldly wisdom is vanity, accomplishes little, and has no eternal benefit, which produces sorrow.
* Godly wisdom however, can accomplish great things and is the only thing that produces an eternal effect but can still produce sorrow. Why?

Have you ever learned a new truth from scripture, just to realize that your life does not line up with the word of God? This produces sorrow in the heart of the true believer. Sorrow for marring the picture of Christ to the world and not giving God the glory due His name. It can even produce sorrow in your heart when the sin belongs to someone else, especially a loved one. Your heart breaks. It is gut-wrenching pain. And your bed is filled with tears...

Psalm 119:136 "Rivers of water run down from my eyes, because men do not keep Your law".

So, do we throw wisdom out the window because it may be painful? Absolutely not. God's Word is full of admonitions to seek Godly wisdom. But there are two things I believe we need to keep in mind when it comes to searching for wisdom.
#1 We must be careful to not let wisdom (of either sort) become an idol.
#2 We must learn how to rest in Christ when Godly wisdom is given to us.

The latter of the two is the most difficult paradox. Resting in (having contentment in) Christ sovereign and providential work and standards, yet continuing to strive towards Godliness (especially when in affliction).

Take for example, a saved wife and an unbelieving husband. Her desire to be in the Word could easily be stifled by the fact that she will learn more and more of what a Godly husband should look like and how far removed her husband may be from that picture, thus causing much sorrow.
Should she cease to read God's Word because of that? Absolutely not. What she must learn to do is balance these two truths:
** God's Sovereignty & Man's Responsibility **
(Finding contentment in God's providential hand, yet striving to glorify God in this midst of her affliction)

This is no easy task! And I don't know if it's one we will ever fully comprehend this side of glory. However, God's Word does have many helpful things to say about it. Here are just a few...

Proverbs 3:5-8 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones.

Ecc.7:3 Sorrow is better than laughter,
for by a sad countenance the heart is made better.

2Cor.4:17 For our light momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Psalm 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes.

Psalm 119:165 Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.

1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen, you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith - the salvation of your souls. (Do not skip those 3 little words 'if need be' and balance that by remembering that God's sovereignty is rooted in His goodness.)

There are more scriptures than I could possibly list but I would encourage you to dig deeper into God's Word for more edification. Also, the best book I've ever read on this subject is: When I Don't Desire God, How to Fight for Joy written by John Piper.
You can read it online at: http://www.desiringgod.org/media/pdf/books_bwdd/bwdd_all.pdf

Top 30 Reasons to Homeschool

2009-08-18T06:20:00.007-04:00

Two things happened this week. One, I had a conversation with a family that I love dearly, whose children are in public school and two, we started back home"schooling" yesterday. By God's wonderful providence He allowed the former to remind me of why I do the latter.
In the conversation, there was what seemed for moment - a life of ease and comfort. Both parents work and make very good money. They took several vacations this summer, bought a boat, and did several activities with their church. Sadly, we talked about the oldest daughter going to college in 3 years and how well she is doing with her schooling. Both children are heavily involved in sports and may perhaps get a scholarship from it. Life was great.
As I drove home I began to ponder "the ease" of only having to "parent" for an hour each morning (long enough to get them fed and out the door) and the "ease" of coming home to "parent" but only having to do it a little because we're off to sports practice. Then the "ease" of returning home to feed them and put them to bed. And that's not to mention the "ease" of two incomes or a church that supplies all their spiritual needs. For a brief mili-second, the thought of only having 2 children, plenty of money, and a parental life of ease sounded good. BUT THEN...
By the gracious and merciful hand of God I was thankful to have spent the last 10 years studying, pondering, and researching in His Word for "why" I should be home schooling. And for those of you that know me, you know I use the word homeschooling loosely...I prefer homemaking, simply because it encompases the whole role given to us, which I believe does include their academics.
My desire is not to speak ill of this sweet family. I love them dearly and pray for them often that God would open their eyes before it's too late. I only speak of it because it is the American norm today and because if you are not grounded in "why you believe what you believe" about homeschooling(making), then you will be easily swayed to stray from God's Word.
I pray these 30 reminders will be of great encouragement to you as you begin this 2009-2010 "school year" or "homemaking adventure".

Top 5 reasons to homeschool as it relates to “God’s First Institution” and the “Dominion Mandate”:

1) In Genesis 1:27-28 God implements His first institution…Marriage and Family. “So God created man in His own image. In the image of God He created them. Male and female He created them. Then God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it…” Therefore, we can see God’s wisdom early on for two of the most powerful means of proclaiming the gospel with our lives. Marriage and Family! And I believe home schooling gives us a tremendous amount of time and opportunities to proclaim this gospel with our lives.

2) Psalm 127: 3-5 reiterates this wisdom and opportunity…”Behold children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate.”

3) Our children have more opportunities to see first hand how mommy’s and daddy’s portray Christ and the Church and how the family is a microcosm of the Body of Christ.

4) Our children have more time to minister in the community, thus showing forth a living picture of the gospel.

5) We are able to teach as well as model for our children how: moms should be helpmeets and homemakers and how dads should be spiritual leaders and loving husbands.

Top 5 reasons to homeschool as it relates to “Teaching” and having a “Multigenerational View of Faithfulness”:

6) Deuteronomy 32:46 “…you shall command your children to be careful to observe all the words of this law. For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life…” In other words, this is what you were created to do with your children!

7) Ephesians 6:4 “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the instruction and discipline of the Lord”. If they are not with us the majority of their day, how much “bringing up” can we really do?

8) Deuteronomy 6:6-7 and again Deut. 11:19 you find God saying “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. YOU shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” This is clearly an all day every day command!

9) Deuteronomy 4:9 “Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and grandchildren…” This is a multigenerational view of faithfulness. It’s not enough to just teach our children. We’ve got to teach our children to teach their children and so on.

10) Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples…” True discipleship is rooted in deep personal involvement.

Top 10 reasons to homeschool as it relates to “Protection”:

11) Colossians 2:8 “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the principles of this world, and not according to Christ”. In bringing our children home, we have worked to secure an environment that is according to Christ and not according to the traditions of men or the principles of this world, therefore protecting them from many unbiblical philosophies.

12) This concept of protecting our children from vain philosophies extends into their curriculum since most of the modern textbooks have revision upon revision, to the point where the truths of God’s history and providence have been pushed completely out! Not to mention the secular humanists views that has replaced them. Therefore, we have the opportunity to give them a more complete picture of God and use textbooks with a truer accuracy. Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”.

13) Our job as parents is to help “conform our children into the image of Christ” through their academics not in spite of them and home schooling is definitely more conducive to providing this due to the difference in methods, philosophies, time and opportunities.

14) Not only have we protected against the empty deceit of men, we are also able to protect from certain socialization experiences that would tend to hinder their walk with the Lord. Proverbs 4:14 “Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil”.
1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits.”

15) There is protection in the companions they are able to keep.
Proverbs 13:20 “He who walks with the wise will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed”.

16) The bible is very clear that we are to withdraw from certain influences and having our children at home will certainly help protect them from these influences at least until they are prepared to deal with them. 2Timothy 3:1-5 “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”

17) The more our children are exposed to the more they become desensitized to. We have got to protect their consciences. Romans 13:14 “Make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts”.
1Timothy 4:1-2 “…some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and the doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron…”

18) We want to show our children God’s concept of holiness instead of society’s concept of the ideal man. Ro.12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”.

19) Our children need truth in every area, every day, all day and so do we! Where else can we provide a constant atmosphere of reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness other than in the home with the two teachers God has provided (teachers that will love and discipline their children in a way no one else would or could)…2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

20) Home schooling frees us from humanistic teachings like the “Multicultural Act” of 1979 requiring teachers to teach “different lifestyles” and “different value systems” as legitimate in order to help students develop pride in their own cultural legacy and to cause “appreciation” for others. This is also known as the “melting pot” theory. “We’re all going in the same direction…We are simply taking a variety of paths to get there”. This clearly goes against the scriptural principle of moral absolutes! There is a right way and a wrong way!

Top 10 reasons to homeschool as it relates to “Various Freedoms” and “Blessings”:

21) The blessing that comes from the academic superiority of a one-on-one teaching situation.

22) The blessing of having more flexibility in our schedule.

23) The blessing of having the time needed to cultivate deep meaningful relationships with our children and for them to cultivate deep meaningful relationships with their siblings.

24) Our older children our blessed to have opportunities to teach the younger children, which not only helps them better retain what they have learned but also prepares them for parenthood.

25) Our children our blessed to be surrounded with a variety of ages throughout the day, young and old alike, which prepares them for a well-rounded multitude of life circumstances.

26) We have the freedom to tailor the course of study to the individual… not forcing our children through a set of “one size fits all” standards but trying to fulfill the biblical principle of individuality.

27) They are free from the artificial standards of popularity, athletic ability, and physical attractiveness.

28) Not only can we teach them verbally from God’s word all day but we can also model for them holy living which allows us to focus on character building and enables us to discipline our children as soon as a problem arises. Proverbs 13:24 “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.”

29) They are gaining their sense of worth through the parents’ teachings not the peer’s opinion of him.

30) We have the ability to better prioritize our time, stop the busyness, and focus on what will have eternal benefits.

Happy Homemaking!!!

A Spur to Repentance

2009-08-15T19:36:00.001-04:00

It is better to go with difficulty to heaven, than with ease to hell. We should repent now, that we have sinned so much and wept so little, that God's bag has been so full and His bottle so empty (Job 14:17). We should repent now that we repented no sooner. We should repent now that we have loved Christ no more, that we have fetched no more virtue from him and brought no more glory to him. It should be our grief on our death-bed that our lives have had so many blanks and blots in them, that our duties have been so fly-blown with sin, that our obedience has been so imperfect, and we have gone so lame in the ways of God.

Many are now in hell that purposed to repent. Satan does what he can to keep men from repentance. When he sees that they begin to take up serious thoughts of reformation, he bids them wait a little longer...
It is dangerous to procrastinate repentance because the longer any go on in sin the harder they will find the work of repentance. Delay strengthens sin and hardens the heart and gives the devil fuller possession...
Certain people conceive it an easy thing to repent, but a belief in the easiness of repentance is a great hindrance to it. This opinion makes a person bold in sin. When a man thinks he can lash out in sin as far as he wishes and then with ease pull himself back to repentance when he pleases, this emboldens him to more wickedness...
Delighting in sin hardens the heart. In true repentance there must be a grieving for sin, but how can one grieve for that which he loves? He who delights in sin can hardly pray against it. His heart is so inveigled with sin that he is afraid of leaving it too soon. Indeed, if prayer does not make a man leave sin, will make him leave prayer...
O dreadful day, when Jesus Christ, clothed in his judge's robe, shall say to the sinner, 'Stand forth; answer to the indictment brought against you. What can you say for all your oaths, adulteries, and your desperate wickedness?'
O how amazed and stricken that sinner will be! And after his conviction he must hear the sad sentence, 'Depart from me you workers of lawlessness, I never knew you!'
What a spur to repentance this should be! ~Thomas Watson

A Horse Wedding

2009-08-10T18:33:00.004-04:00

Today was a sweet blessing from the Lord...

The house was clean...

The children were freshly bathed...

There was a yummy smell of homemade bread baking...

and laughter was coming from the kitchen table...

I snapped this photo to capture the moment...

and to tell you the story of "The Horse Wedding"

My sweet Leah began the conversation between horses by saying, "let's have a horse wedding".

Lacy: OK

Leah: You have to put all the boys with a girl

Lacy: But I want these two together

Leah: But that is two girls! A girl cannot marry a girl!

Lacy: Momma! Can a girl marry a girl?

Momma: No Lacy, God intended for girls to marry boys.

Lacy: OK momma

Leah: Lacy, you walk them down the aisle and I will say all the "stuff"

Lacy: OK (walking horses across the table)

Leah: Sir, do you take the lady to be your wife?

Lacy: Yes!

Leah: Do you love her?

Lacy: Yes!

Leah: Will you build her a house?

Lacy: Yes!

Leah: Will you take care of her when she gets a boo boo?

Lacy: Yes!

Leah: Good then. (turning to the girl...)

Leah: Lady, do you take this man to be your husband?

Lacy: Yes!

Leah: Do you love him?

Lacy: Yes!

Leah: Will you sew his clothes when he needs it?

Lacy: Yes!

Leah: Will you love him when he gets a boo boo?

Lacy: Yes!

Leah: Good then. You can kiss.

GIGO

2009-08-10T14:39:00.006-04:00

GIGO—garbage in, garbage out; godliness in, godliness out. The cognitive is basic to the behavioral—you become what you choose to feed your mind on. ~Randy Alcorn

"The worth and excellency of a soul is to be measured by the object of its love." ~Henry Scougal

"You don't judge the glory of a soul by what it wills to do with lukewarm interest, or with mere teeth-gritting determination. To know a soul's proportions you need to know its passions. The true dimensions of a soul are seen in its delights. Not what we dutifully will but what we passionately want reveals our excellence or evil." ~John Piper

"A good man out the good treasures of his heart brings forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasures of his heart brings forth evil things." ~Jesus

"The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil." ~Jesus

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness." ~Jesus

"Let no corrupt word proceed from your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." ~Jesus

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things." ~Jesus

How to Survive the Currently Unfolding Depression

2009-08-07T21:07:00.001-04:00

Excerpt taken from SurvivalBlog:

•Work cheerfully and diligently. It is slackers that find themselves unemployed first.
•Get debt free and stay debt free. Take on no new indebtedness, and pay down the debts you already have.
•Learn to distinguish essentials from non-essentials.
•Write a budget, and stick to it. Whittle it, as necessary, to avoid debt.
•Sell off your useless Beanie babies and assorted knickknacks.
•Increase your savings
•Build up your food storage
•Diversify your investments. Don't put all your money in one bank.
•Check your bank or S&L's safety rating at TheStreet.com. Check your stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and insurers, while you are at it.)
•Hedge your investments with some tangibles
•Sell off any vacation or rental properties that don't have retreat potential
•If you move, then it should be to a place near a secure job, and preferably to a piece of farm or ranch land that provides some self-sufficiency.
•Develop a second stream of income.
•Release yourself from your addictions. Pray fervently, and if need be, seek help.
•Plant a garden.
•Stay in shape.
•Be willing to accept work that is lower paying or less appealing
•Be charitable.
•Most importantly: Get right with God. (Believe, repent of your sin, confess Jesus as your savior, and be baptized.)

Important Lessons Drawn from the Decrees of God

2009-08-03T17:19:00.005-04:00

By Thomas Boston
(this is a small excerpt)

See here the evil of murmuring and complaining at our lot in the world. How apt are you to quarrel with God, as if he were in the wrong to you, when his dealings with you are not according to your own desires and wishes? You demand a reason, and call God to an account, Why did this happen to me? Why am I so much afflicted and distressed? Why am I so long afflicted? And why such an affliction rather than another? Why am I so poor and another so rich? Thus your hearts rise up against God. But you should remember, that this is to defame the counsels of infinite wisdom, as if God had not ordered your affairs wisely enough in his eternal counsel. We find the Lord reproving Job for this, chap. 40:2 "Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?" When you murmur and brood under cross and afflictive dispensations, this is a presuming to instruct God how to deal with you, and to reprove him as if he were in the wrong. Indeed, there is a kind of implicit blasphemy in it, as if you had more wisdom and justice to arrange your circumstances, and to carve out your own portion in the world. This is what you really mean when you say, "If I been on God's counsel, I would have ordered this matter better; things would not be with me as they are now." Oh presume not to correct the infinite wisdom of God, seeing he has decreed all things most wisely and judiciously.

For all the lessons click here:
http://www.puritansermons.com/boston/bost8.htm

A Challenge to Women

2009-08-01T10:55:00.003-04:00

By John Piper January 1, 1995

1. That all of your life—in whatever calling—be devoted to the glory of God.

2. That the promises of Christ be trusted so fully that peace and joy and strength fill your soul to overflowing.

3. That this fullness of God overflow in daily acts of love so that people might see your good deeds and give glory to your Father in heaven.

4. That you be women of the Book, who love and study and obey the Bible in every area of its teaching. That meditation on Biblical truth be the source of hope and faith. And that you continue to grow in understanding through all the chapters of your life, never thinking that study and growth are only for others.

5. That you be women of prayer, so that the Word of God would open to you; and the power of faith and holiness would descend upon you; and your spiritual influence would increase at home and at church and in the world.

6. That you be women who have a deep grasp of the sovereign grace of God undergirding all these spiritual processes, that you be deep thinkers about the doctrines of grace, and even deeper lovers and believers of these things.

7. That you be totally committed to ministry, whatever your specific role, that you not fritter your time away on soaps or ladies magazines or aimless hobbies, any more than men should fritter theirs away on excessive sports or aimless diddling in the garage. That you redeem the time for Christ and his Kingdom.

8. That, if you are single, you exploit your singleness to the full in devotion to Christ and not be paralyzed by the desire to be married.

9. That, if you are married, you creatively and intelligently and sincerely support the leadership of your husband as deeply as obedience to Christ will allow; that you encourage him in his God-appointed role as head; that you influence him spiritually primarily through your fearless tranquility and holiness and prayer.

10. That, if you have children, you accept responsibility with your husband (or alone if necessary) to raise up children who hope in the triumph of God, sharing with him the teaching and discipline of the children, and giving to the children that special nurturing touch and care that you are uniquely fitted to give.

11. That you not assume that secular employment is a greater challenge or a better use of your life than the countless opportunities of service and witness in the home the neighborhood, the community, the church, and the world. That you not only pose the question: Career vs. full time mom? But that you ask as seriously: Full time career vs. freedom for ministry? That you ask: Which would be greater for the Kingdom— to be in the employ of someone telling you what to do to make his business prosper, or to be God's free agent dreaming your own dream about how your time and your home and your creativity could make God's business prosper? And that in all this you make your choices not on the basis of secular trends or yuppie lifestyle expectations, but on the basis of what will strengthen the family and advance the cause of Christ.

12. That you step back and (with your husband, if you are married) plan the various forms of your life's ministry in chapters. Chapters are divided by various things—age, strength, singleness, marriage, employment choices, children at home, children in college, grandchildren, retirement, etc. No chapter has all the joys. Finite life is a series of tradeoffs. Finding God's will, and living for the glory of Christ to the full in every chapter is what makes it a success, not whether it reads like somebody else's chapter or whether it has in it what chapter five will have.

13. That you develop a wartime mentality and lifestyle; that you never forget that life is short, that billions of people hang in the balance of heaven and hell every day, that the love of money is spiritual suicide, that the goals of upward mobility (nicer clothes, cars, houses, vacations, food, hobbies) are a poor and dangerous substitute for the goals of living for Christ with all your might, and maximizing your joy in ministry to people's needs.

Oath Keepers

2009-07-26T15:50:00.003-04:00

OATH KEEPERS is an association of Military, Veterans, and peace officers who will honor their oaths to defend the Constitution, will NOT just follow orders, will stand for liberty, and are trying to save the Republic.

Obama's Science Czar

2009-07-24T16:25:00.001-04:00

John Holdren is his name and here are some quotes from him...

“It has been concluded that compulsory population-control laws, even including laws requiring compulsory abortion, could be sustained under the existing constitution if the population crisis became sufficiently severe to endanger the society.”

“If some individuals contribute to general social deterioration by overproducing children, and if the need is compelling, they can be required by law to exercise reproductive responsibility”

“Moreover, if the United States government refuses to take proper measures, they authorize the United Nations to take compelling force.”

President-elect Barack Obama stated in December that he had nominated Holdren as Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy as part of his Administration's mission to promote an unbiased science. The goal, said Obama, was to protect "free and open inquiry" and "ensuring that facts and evidence are never twisted or obscured by politics or ideology."
"It's about listening to what our scientists have to say, even when it's inconvenient - especially when it's inconvenient."

Isaiah 5:20 "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil..."

I love to read the Psalms when I hear of such wickedness being devised. Especially Psalm 37, here are some excerpts...

Do not fret because of evil men...for like the grass they will soon wither...

The wicked plot against the righteous...but the Lord laughs at the wicked...

The wicked draw the sword...but their swords will pierce their own hearts...

All sinners will be destroyed...

The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him.

Not just History but Depravity...

2009-07-22T14:20:00.002-04:00

I recently blogged "No one needs to ask "Why?"...

That blog covered the fact that America is in the shape she is in because we have forgotten our HisStory, which is to say, we have forgotten to learn from what God has said and done.

Today, I want to blog about the BIGGEST reason why we have the problems we have in America.

Let's look at 3 questions that I believe are at the heart of the issue...

Q. Why have so many Americans surrendered their faith in God for faith in the State?
A. Sin.
"Thou shall have no other gods before Me". Exodus 20:2

Quotes:
Sin is trying to fulfill a God-given need without God. ~ John Piper

The State is suppose to be the provider of justice, NOT a dispenser of sustenance...
When the state enlarges its jurisdictional boundaries, without any regard to limits; it gradually assumes what God alone possesses; unlimited power and authority...
Therefore, the more we turn to the State for assistance, the more we make it our God.
~ Gary Demar

Q. How did this happen?
A. It began in the garden...and it's called total depravity.

Quotes:
Read R.L.Dabney on depravity at http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/dabney/5points.htm#t

Salvation is accomplished by the almighty power of the triune God. The Father chose a people, the Son died for them, the Holy Spirit makes Christ's death effective by bringing the elect to faith and repentance, thereby causing them to willingly obey the Gospel. The entire process (election, redemption, regeneration) is the work of God and is by grace alone. Thus God, not man, determines who will be the recipients of the gift of salvation. http://www.reformed.org/

Q. How does this sinful nature manifest itself?
A. This sinful nature man possess has led to many false religions and ideologies that have plagued our nation for decades and brought us to where we are today. Here are just a few examples of these false religions and ideologies that flow from a totally depraved heart; the excerpts were taken from our Biblical Worldview Curriculum, to which I highly recommend: http://www.summit.org/

Religious Humanism: believes man has the power to change people...where Christians believe, God and God alone has the power to change people.

Utilitarianism: believes that the greatest happiness of the greatest number should be the aim of all actions.

Moral Relativism: believes that right and wrong are determined by the individual or culture.

Post Modernism: believes there are no moral absolutes.

Pluralism: all beliefs are true.

Globalism: the belief in the need for one-world-government.

Egalitarianism: all people should get the same and be treated the same regardless.

Deist: God created the world but is not in control of it.

Polytheist: ok to worship many gods.

Atheist: believe there is no God.

Agnostic: believe it is impossible to know if there is a God.

Existentialist: life has no meaning outside of what you make it.

Evolutionist: believe one species develops from another and God (if He exist) did not "create" anything.

Theistic Evoluntionist: believe that God works through evolution.

Pantheist: God is everything and everything is God.

Transcendentalist: God exist only in the mind.

Universalist: all souls go to heaven.

Jihadist: Moslems who war against unbelievers of Allah.

Naturalist: believe there is no supernatural or spiritual creation.

Annihilationist: believe when we die we will simply cease to exist.

Historical Revisionist: those who revise historical events in order to support their worldview.

Economic Interventionist: those (secular humanist, post modernist, etc...) who recommend economic intervention in order to control man's economic affairs.

And the list goes on and on...
I would encourage you to make sure your view of what is going on in America is a biblical view.

No One Needs To Ask "Why?"

2009-07-13T16:35:00.006-04:00

Is it too late for America?
Morally, she has already fallen and economically, it is only a matter of time; just do the math!

Yes, a reformation and revival would be nice and I pray God would be merciful and grant such a blessing but I must also acknowledge the book of Revelation and be willing to pray..."Not my will but Thine be done."

No one needs to ask "Why America is failing?" because every one knows...
When men do not learn from their history, they are doomed to repeat it and after several thousand years of history, it is obvious that men DO NOT learn from history!

So! As a refresher...
What would a nation have to do or not do in order for God to remove His blessed hand of restraint?

I believe there are several but here are 5 major concerns Dr.Peter Ruckman, President, Founder, and Teacher of the Pensacola Bible Institute, points out.

#1 The undermining of the dignity and sanctity of the HOME...meaning: role-distortions such as: making women equal to men, thus removing the man as the "head" of the house, and removing the wife\mother from the home, and so on...
By inventing "families" composed of sodomites and lesbians and so on...
By unbiblical practices of divorce, spiritual training, schooling, etc...
#2 Unbiblical stewardship, Unjust weights, Higher and higher unjust taxes, etc...meaning: Welfare, Medicare, Social Security, Food Stamps, Socialized Medicine, Bail-outs, etc...
#3 The mad craze for PLEASURE...every one doing what is right in his own eyes, while becoming more and more brutal and immoral every year.
#4 The decay of INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY...just as an example, in America, we have went beyond freeing the black slaves (during the Civil War) to making them innocent of crimes they commit on the basis that their accusers were "racists". Then you give them "special rights" given to no other race - called "affirmative action". With that in place, you not only put blacks over whites, you put women over men, children over adults, and queers over straights on the grounds that they are all "oppressed minorities". (This is heartbreakingly sad because this line of thinking puts everyone in a "victim mentality" which is completely unbiblical and enslaving!) (Not to mention that it will soon be the reason for silencing preachers who speak out against this!!!!!)
#5 The decay of religion..."faith" fading into just "forms"...in America we have atheist, communist, humanist, and a whole host of others, including some liberal protestants, supporting the National Education Association that teaches our young people: life came accidentally from dead organic matter and therefore everyone is relieved from obeying their Creator. From this point on, all "guiding" is by hook or crook, revising history, or ignoring reality in order to make carbon copied "world citizens." And this is just one example!

All 5 of these America posesses plus more!
Congratulations America, the depression is here...a total economic collaspe leading to a "one-world-government" is very nearby... and God is steadily removing His hand of blessing!

"All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing" ~Edmund Burke

What will you do?

Beans, Bullets, & Band-aids...

2009-06-24T16:47:00.003-04:00

For all of my like-minded friends out there that are preparing for a failing economy...
Here is a great website my husband discovered today!
When you open it, read the 'precepts' first...
then read the 'prayer'...
then read the 'links'...

www.survivalblog.com

This guy is right on track...
Love this sight!!!

The Deliberate Dumbing Down of America

2009-06-24T10:07:00.001-04:00

Happy Father's Day!

2009-06-21T15:42:00.000-04:00

To my 3 earthly fathers...

I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you
to be strengthend with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith...
may you have the strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Eph.3:14-21

I Love You!

And to my Heavenly Father...
The Valley of Vision is a book that contains a collection of Puritan prayers and devotions. Today, I dedicate God All-Sufficient to my heavenly Father...

GOD ALL-SUFFICIENT

KING OF GLORY, DIVINE MAJESTY,
Every perfection adorns thy nature and sustains thy throne;
The heavens and earth are thine,
The world is thine and its fullnesss.
Thy power created the universe from nothing;
Thy wisdom has managed all its multiple concerns,
presiding over nations, families, individiuals.
Thy goodness is boundless;
all creatures wait on the
are supplied by thee,
are satisfied in thee.
How precious are the thoughts of thy mercy and grace!
How excellent thy lovingkindness that draws men to thee!

Teach us to place our happiness in thee, the blessed God,
never seeking life among the dead things of earth,
or asking for that which satisfies the deluded;
But may we prize the light of thy smile,
implore the joy of thy salvation,
find our heaven in thee.
Thou hast attended to our happiness more than we can do;
Though we are fallen creatures thou hast not neglected us.
In love and pity thou hast provided us a saviour;
Apply his redemption to our hearts,
by justifying our persons,
and sanctifying our natures.
We confess our transgressions, have mercy on us.
When we are weary, give us rest,
ignorant, make us wise unto salvation,
helpless, let thy strength be made perfect in our weakness,
poor and needy, bless us with Christ's unsearchable riches,
perplexed and tempted, let us not travel on unchecked or dismayed,
but know that thou hast said,
'I will never leave thee nor forsake thee'.
Blessed be thy name!

Vacation...Part 2 of 2

2009-06-08T17:23:00.001-04:00

My boys...

Daddy & Leah napping...

More smiles at the party...

Our golf cart tour...

Helping grandma feed the catfish...

Magnolia Plantation in Charleston...

My first impression at Magnolia...

was in the bathroom of course...children:)

But aren't these faucets so cute!

Mommy, take a picture of the flowers...

Mommy, why do you need a picture of the flowers?

Smile :)

My little ladies...

See the aligators???

My mom....

Me...

Leah...

Lacy...Look how sweet...what a pretty flower...

It's too bad that moments later...

This goat walked right up to her and ATE IT!

Yes...she cried :(

But then she found a new friend...

and all was well.

But THEN, we tried to befriend the deer...

Who thought she really smelled good...

Good enough to EAT as a matter of fact!

Yes...she cried...as this sweet little bambi...

literally helped himself to a mouthful of her hair!

The petting zoo was nothing short of an emotional roller coaster for Miss Lacy...

But she recovered...no permenant damage, I'm sure :)

All in all, I think we had a pretty good day!

Vacation... Part 1 of 2

2009-06-06T13:50:00.000-04:00

Our whole family recently took a vacation to South Carolina to visit my mom and step dad.

It was also my mother's 50th Birthday!

Yes, my mother is only 50... She had me when she was 15...
Yes, that makes me 35 :)

For years my mother and I had a very strained relationship. She was very young and had to work all the time and I was a lost selfish brat. BUT through God's gracious gift of salvation we have mended our relationship and are working on becoming best friends!

Here are some pics for you to enjoy...

Wendy (her daughter-in-law), Chance (Wendy's daughter), Mom, Luke, Me, and Lacy

The girls wrote her letters...

And I forgot to take pictures of the gifts...oops!

But she was very happy to receive 2 full disks of pictures of the kids taken by Emily Elizabeth...Thank you Miss Emily :)

We also gave her a lovely matching bracelet and brioche, and then we spent the whole week shopping and exploring together...

We had a great time!

The boys helped cook that night...

The next day we toured (on golf cart) the property (20acres) and picked 2 gallons of wild plums and blackberries...

I think Luke ate more than he picked :)

Then we took a day and went shopping in all the antique stores...

There are a lot of antique stores South Carolina!!!

Look at this lovely antique wedding dress...

I wish you could see the lace better...it was really beautiful!

I love old books! Anything written before 1900...especially HisStory!

The Reformation and the Civil War are two of my favorites.

This set was on the Civil War and gives both the Union and Confederate accounts of certain battles. Very interesting! Our current President would do well to have an accurate account of our nation's history...especially the Civil War!

Hopefully, one day soon I'll post more on my love for the Confederates and their desire for religious freedom, states rights, self-government, etc...

I immediately thought of the Feldman children when I saw this lovely two-way bench.

It looks like something they would have thought to create, plus it would fit nicely in their dining area :)

This very versatile bench was once used at an old train station for passengers waiting to board the train. After the south bound passengers would board they would flip the back of the bench over to accept north bound passengers! How creative!

Inexpensive (at the time) too...note the 3 chair bottoms as the legs...today it will run you a cool $1200

Wheat mill...

Corn mill...

Bread maker...

Baby bassinet...

Old photo...

A stark reminder of how blind our culture has become to what is "feminine".

I would truly dress like this everyday if I were able! I love the styles of the 17 & 1800's...

This was my absolute favorite find of the day!

Every lady should have a tea set...

And this particular set is dated from 1840 and costs $1100.

I am not a frivolous spender by any means, but if I had a spare (haha) $1100, this would've been mine! Just look at the detail and coloring...it is breath-taking!

Well, that's all for now...hopefully I can give you part 2 tomorrow :)

Why a Sage?

2009-05-20T07:23:00.000-04:00

According to this definition:

SAGE, n. A wise woman; a woman of gravity and discernment; particularly, a woman venerable for years, and known as a woman of sound judgment and prudence; as a sage counselor.

I guess even a pagan could aspire to be a sage. They could simply aspire to be wise according to the world's standards...But this is NOT the type of wisdom I am speaking about. Scriptures are clear that "knowledge alone puffs up, but love edifies" (1 Cor.8:1).

No, the definition I'm talking about came from a Piper sermon on Biblical Counseling where he describes the life of an old washer-woman that taught Spurgeon all his Calvinism. It was the first time I'd ever heard such a breathtaking description of a sage. He spoke about how this old washer-woman knew her theology forward and backward and how her life was this living breathing example of Christ-likeness. This was a woman who had gone deep and walked close with God over her many years. This was a woman who's love for God spilled over into a labor of love for young Spurgeon and she probably never imagined being recognized for it.

I was captivated by her!

I wanted to be that old washer-woman!

THIS was a goal worthy of aspiration that would help me to 'finish well'.

And this is the type of sage I'm referring to.

This is also the type of Christian-life God describes throughout the scriptures because He has actually given us all the ministry of counseling (Galatians 6:1, 2 Timothy 4:2-5, Colossians 3:16, etc...). And whether we intend to or not, we counsel everyday...either by what is said or not said and by what is done or not done. Everyday there is someone watching and\or listening to see how we (professing Christians) will deal with life's circumstances and it is our chief end to glorify God through them.

In summary, someone once said to me..."We can only endure as much suffering as God is precious to us. Counseling is making God precious to those who are suffering".

As a wife, mother, evangelist, and friend...I can think of no better way to glorify God than to "make Him precious" to those around me.

What better way to love?

What better way to give hope?

What better way to edify?

What better way to live?

Lacy Singing "Hold On" by Selah

2009-05-18T20:01:00.001-04:00

Leah's Peanut Butter Pie Video

2009-05-18T18:46:00.000-04:00

Mayhaw Jelly Pt.2 of 2

2009-05-18T16:18:00.001-04:00

Makin' Mayhaw Jelly was almost as much fun as pickin' em...

Leah, Luke, and Abby cleaning the jars...

Place 8 cups Mayhaw berries in 5 cups of water

Bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes.

(We had picked a total of 20 cups of berries, so

we repeated the process a few times)

Mash berries in the pot...

Strain through a cheesecloth (mashing gently).
Return to pot, add 1 1/2 boxes of pectin
and bring to a boil.
Add 5 cups sugar and return to a boil.
Boil for 1 full minute.
Remove from heat.
Ladle into HOT jars.
Turn upside down once.
Let sit overnight.
Enjoy Mayhaw Jelly in the morning!

We actually cooked the berries twice and got 26 Jars!!!

I think Luke had the most fun :)

Mayhaw Jelly Pt.1 of 2

2009-05-18T15:39:00.000-04:00

About a week or so ago we went down to the creek to pick Mayhaw's...

Walking down the dried creek bed...

We laid down a sheet and Lane

shook the Mayhaw's off the tree...

This is what a Mayhaw looks like...

Then we gather them off the sheet...

And off the ground...

But BEWARE of snakes!!!

This cute little corn snake ventured on our path...

It's a good thing that they are not harmful...

since my sweet, loving, adorable son...

ACCIDENTALLY threw him on me!!!!

Yes, I've forgiven him :)

I'm not real scared of snakes, so

we had a good laugh about it :)

Here's the video for your enjoyment :)

We had a great time...

Oh! And we got to pick flowers! :)

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T22:11:00.000-04:00

A good friend of mine (Lisa) gave me this quote from Spurgeon on mothers...I enjoyed it very much and thought it would be fitting to share for Mother's Day...

"O dear mothers, you have a very sacred trust reposed in you by God! He hath in effect said to you, “Take this child and nurse it for Me, and I will give thee thy wages.” You are called to equip the future man of God, that he may be thoroughly furnished unto every good work. If God spares you, you may live to hear that pretty boy speak to thousands, and you will have the sweet reflection in your heart that the quiet teachings of the nursery led the man to love his God and serve Him. Those who think that a woman detained at home by her little family is doing nothing, think the reverse of what is true. Scarcely can the godly mother quit her home for a place of worship; but dream not that she is lost to the work of the church; far from it, she is doing the best possible service for her Lord. Mothers, the godly training of your offspring is your first and most pressing duty."

Charles Haddon Spurgeon
(1834-1892)

I hope you have all had a wonderful Mother's Day! May God bless!

Horses

2009-05-07T14:06:00.000-04:00

Two months ago we visited some family...

Our girls fell in love with their miniature horses!

This wonderful day with the horses

reminded me of Psalm 20

when David exclaims...

Now I know that the Lord saves!

He will answer from His holy heaven

with the saving strength of His right hand.

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;

But we will remember the name of

the Lord our God!

Kumquat Jelly

2009-05-06T19:40:00.000-04:00

In late November we picked kumquats...

30lbs of kumquats...to be exact!

Wow!

Then we attempted to make kumquat jelly...

After several tries, it never would set...

I have no pictures of that experience :(

But yesterday, Sara and I tried again...

Success! 65 jars of homemade kumquat jelly!

RECIPE

For every lb. of fruit, you need a lb. of sugar...

For every six cups of fruit juice, you need 2 boxes of pectin...

Rinse kumquats thoroughly

Soak kumquats in water and baking soda for 10 minutes

Drain & Rinse

Option #1 Juice the kumquats in a juicer

Option #2 Cut kumquats horizontally & pop out the insides,

then boil and mash out the juice through a cheesecloth

Bring 6 cups of the kumquat juice to a boil

Add 4 cups sugar

Add 2 boxes pectin

Bring to a boil again

Boil for 2 minutes

Pour into clean jars

Place in waterbath for 5 minutes

Turn upside down once

Let sit overnight

Enjoy!

2009 Picnic of Families

2009-05-04T17:26:00.000-04:00

Desiring God Blog

2009-05-04T15:07:00.000-04:00

I highly recommend joining the Desiring God Blog!
Here is a snipet of today's blog...

What does it mean to lose heart?
To lose heart is to lose our courage or lose the will to go on. It means to be utterly spiritless and worn out, to throw in the towel. It is more than discouragement. It's discouragement to point of quitting the race before it is over.
God forbid that any of us should throw in the towel of our gospel ministries! We are those who do not lose heart! We do not throw in the towel of displaying the glory of God to the world! To throw in the towel of the gospel is to have believed in vain, to make shipwreck of our faith.
There are glorious promises that tell us that if we have indeed received this ministry that we will indeed not lose heart (John 10:27-30 for one). No power of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck us from his hand.

How do we keep from being among those who just give up?
We do it by fixing our eyes on the God-centered realities that describe us:
But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. (2 Corinthians 2:14)
For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. (2 Corinthians 2:17)
Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God. (2 Corinthians 3:5)
Surely there are times when it is wise to consider changing the way and type of ministry that we are doing. But we should be very slow to interpret our present difficulties as an indication that we should quit.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Despite all the difficulties we do not throw in the towel. For though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.

I found this so applicable to all areas of my God-given ministries...motherhood, helpmeet, teacher, evangelist, etc....

Oh Lord! Let me never throw in the towel on an opportunity to display Your glory to the world...
for You alone are worthy of all our praise!

Why Blog?

2009-04-29T11:53:00.000-04:00

1. ...to write.

Most of you probably already know the value writing has for thinking. Through writing, I find myself constantly gaining new insights. So, if I strive to write well, I will at the same time be striving to think well. And this is a discipline I would like to better cultivate in my walk with the Lord.

"The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil." Proverbs 15:28

2. ...to develop an eye for what is meaningful.

The constant question for a blogger... Is this bloggable?

I think blogging would help to nurture a habit of looking for insight and wisdom and value in every situation, no matter how mundane. And if we live our lives looking for what is worthwhile in every little thing, we will see more of what God has to teach us.

"If you seek her (wisdom) as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God". Proverbs 2:4-5

3. ...to recommend.

With every passing conversation, it seems like we're always recommending things to one another. Whether it's a good book, restaurant, ministry, or simply Jesus, there is always something new to learn that helps us through this pilgrimage. Therefore, if I can in some small way edify my blog followers with something that has blessed me, then I will be blessed!

"Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another". Romans 14:19

4. ...to share.

Blogging is fun! It's neat to see how God is working in the lives of His saints. Especially since every one's lives are so busy.

So, on my blog you may find everything from...

A picture of my child's birthday to quotes from those who love the Lord...
There may be cooking videos, economy updates, or even a sewing lesson, who knows!

But hopefully it will be a small source of glory to God that is both compelling and personal.

"I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works". Psalm 9:1

Conclusion
Why Blog? Sanctification, edification, and fun for the glory of God!
Hope you'll join in!